Reading Marcus Aurelius

Herein doth consist happiness of life, for a man to know thoroughly the true nature of everything; what is the matter, and what is the form of it: with all his heart and soul, ever to do that which is just, and to speak the truth.

The next, that all these things, which now thou seest, shall within a very little while be changed, and be no more: and ever call to mind, how many changes and alterations in the world thou thyself hast already been an eyewitness of in thy time.

The time of a man's life is as a point; the substance of it ever flowing, the sense obscure; and the whole composition of the body tending to corruption.

The age and time of the world is as it were a flood and swift current, consisting of the things that are brought to pass in the world.

Let thy reasonable faculty, work upon his reasonable faculty; show him his fault, admonish him.

Let this be thy only joy, and thy only comfort, from one sociable kind action without intermission to pass unto another, God being ever in thy mind.

To a reasonable creature, the same action is both according to nature, and according to reason.

The true joy of a man, is to do that which properly belongs unto a man.

Let not thy mind wander up and down, and heap together in her thoughts the many troubles and grievous calamities which thou art as subject unto as any other.

This also thou shalt find of very good use, upon every such occasion, presently to consider with thyself, what proper virtue nature hath furnished man with, against such a vice, or to encounter with a disposition vicious in this kind.

Let it not be in any man's power, to say truly of thee, that thou art not truly simple, or sincere and open, or not good.

To live happily is an inward power of the soul, when she is affected with indifferency, towards those things that are by their nature indifferent.

As for that which is truly good, what can it stand in need of more than either justice or truth; or more than either kindness and modesty?

A happy lot and portion is, good inclinations of the soul, good desires, good actions.

Do not ever conceive anything impossible to man, which by thee cannot, or not without much difficulty be effected; but whatsoever in general thou canst Conceive possible and proper unto any man, think that very possible unto thee also.

Keep thyself therefore, truly simple, good, sincere, grave, free from all ostentation, a lover of that which is just, religious, kind, tender-hearted, strong and vigorous to undergo anything that becomes thee.

We all work to one effect, some willingly, and with a rational apprehension of what we do: others without any such knowledge.

Let us do our best endeavours to persuade them; but however, if reason and justice lead thee to it, do it, though they be never so much against it.

The ambitious supposeth another man's act, praise and applause, to be his own happiness; the voluptuous his own sense and feeling; but he that is wise, his own action.

Every man's happiness depends from himself, but behold thy life is almost at an end, whiles affording thyself no respect, thou dost make thy happiness to consist in the souls, and conceits of other men.