Author
Marcus Aurelius
Roman emperor who kept Meditations as private notes to himself. They were a practice, not a book written for an audience.
561 passages
- Wisdom A black or malign disposition, an effeminate disposition; an hard inexorable disposition, a wild inhuman disposition,…
- Justice A branch is cut off by another, but he that hates and is averse, cuts himself off from his neighbour, and knows not…
- Justice A lamp keeps giving light until its oil is gone. Why should your truthfulness, justice, and self-command not shine…
- Wisdom A man without ever the least appearance of anger, or any other passion; able at the same time most exactly to observe…
- Control A very ridiculous thing it is, that any man should dispense with vice and wickedness in himself, which is in his power…
- Acceptance Accept then, and be pleased with whatsoever doth happen, though otherwise harsh and un-pleasing, as tending to that…
- Acceptance Accept what comes without pride; release what leaves without clinging.
- Wisdom Add nothing beyond the first report. Someone speaks badly of you; that is all reported, not that you are harmed. A…
- Justice After doing well and helping another, why seek a third reward—praise for the act or a favor returned?
- Justice After one consideration, man is nearest unto us; as we are bound to do them good, and to bear with them. But as he may…
- Purpose After thou shalt rightly have considered these things with thyself; fancy not anything else in the world any more to…
- Mortality Again, consider now the times of Trajan. There likewise thou seest the very self-same things, and that age also is now…
- Courage Again, he that feareth pains and crosses in this world, feareth some of those things which some time or other must…
- Temperance Again, how he was no backbiter, nor easily frightened, nor suspicious, and in his language free from all affectation…
- Mortality Alexander and the keeper of his mule came to the same end: absorbed into nature’s reason or dispersed among its atoms.
- Wisdom Alexander, Caius, Pompeius; what are these to Diogenes, Heraclitus, and Socrates? These penetrated into the true…
- Mortality Alexander of Macedon, and he that dressed his mules, when once dead both came to one. For either they were both…
- Justice All men are made one for another: either then teach them better, or bear with them.
- Acceptance All parts of the world, (all things I mean that are contained within the whole world), must of necessity at some time…
- Acceptance All, petty things; all things that are soon altered, soon perished. And all things come from one beginning; either all…
- Acceptance All substances come soon to their change, and either they shall be resolved by way of exhalation (if so be that all…
- Mortality All that I consist of, is either form or matter. No corruption can reduce either of these unto nothing: for neither…
- Acceptance All things that are in the world, are always in the estate of alteration. Thou also art in a perpetual change, yea and…
- Mortality All things that thou seest, will soon be perished, and they that see their corruptions, will soon vanish away…
- Acceptance All those things, for matter of experience are usual and ordinary; for their continuance but for a day; and for their…
- Wisdom All worldly things thou must behold and consider, dividing them into matter, form, and reference, or their proper end.
- Wisdom And how many there be, who never so much as heard of thy name, how many that will soon forget it; how many who but…
- Control And indeed we must needs commit many evils, if we incline to any of these things, more or less, with an opinion of any…
- Gratitude And lastly, which beareth me that tread upon it, and beareth with me that so many ways do abuse it, or so freely make…
- Temperance And that as often as thou shalt behold them, thou shalt still see the same: as the same things, so the same shortness…
- Temperance And that I gave over the study of rhetoric and poetry, and of elegant neat language. That I did not use to walk about…
- Mortality And this I say of them, who once shined as the wonders of their ages, for as for the rest, no sooner are they expired,…
- Temperance Anger and grief often harm us more than the events that first stirred them.
- Control Another cause succeedeth, and undertakes the work, and in time brings a child (that wonderful effect from such a…
- Mortality As a part hitherto thou hast had a particular subsistence: and now shalt thou vanish away into the common substance of…
- Acceptance As a physician's prescription aims at healing, so nature may prescribe illness, disability, or hardship for the work…
- Acceptance As a pig that cries and flings when his throat is cut, fancy to thyself every one to be, that grieves for any worldly…
- Wisdom As every fancy and imagination presents itself unto thee, consider (if it be possible) the true nature, and the proper…
- Justice As for that which is truly good, what can it stand in need of more than either justice or truth; or more than either…
- Discipline As for the use of thy dogmata, thou must carry thyself in the practice of them, rather like unto a pancratiastes, or…
- Temperance As for thy body, which as a vessel, or a case, compasseth thee about, and the many and curious instruments that it…
- Mortality As generation is, so also death, a secret of nature's wisdom: a mixture of elements, resolved into the same elements…
- Purpose As long as the foot doth that which belongeth unto it to do, and the hand that which belongs unto it, their labour,…
- Mortality 'As often as a father kisseth his child, he should say secretly with himself' (said Epictetus,) 'tomorrow perchance…
- Acceptance As one that tosseth up a ball. And what is a ball the better, if the motion of it be upwards; or the worse if it be…
- Gratitude As one who had lived, and were now to die by right, whatsoever is yet remaining, bestow that wholly as a gracious…
- Temperance As one who is altogether governed by nature, let it be thy care to observe what it is that thy nature in general doth…
- Acceptance As ready therefore must a sound understanding be for whatsoever shall happen. But he that saith, O that my children…
- Temperance As the ordinary shows of the theatre and of other such places, when thou art presented with them, affect thee; as the…
- Acceptance As they that long after figs in winter when they cannot be had; so are they that long after children, before they be…
- Control As thou dost purpose to live, when thou hast retired thyself to some such place, where neither roarer nor harlot is:…
- Justice As thou thyself, whoever thou art, were made for the perfection and consummation, being a member of it, of a common…
- Courage As virtue and wickedness consist not in passion, but in action; so neither doth the true good or evil of a reasonable…
- Discipline At every moment keep your mind firmly on the work before you, as a human being, doing it with plain dignity, care,…
- Wisdom At the cause, or the matter? Behold either by itself, is either of that weight and moment indeed? And besides these,…
- Justice At the conceit and apprehension that such and such a one hath sinned, thus reason with thyself; What do I know whether…
- Wisdom Attend carefully to what is said and to what follows from each deed; in action seek its aim, and in speech its meaning.
- Discipline Attend to what lies before you: the principle involved, the work required, or the impression being presented.
- Discipline Be it all one unto thee, whether half frozen or well warm; whether only slumbering, or after a full sleep; whether…
- Discipline Be it so: yet there be many other good things, for the want of which thou canst not plead the want or natural ability.…
- Acceptance Be not angry neither with him whose breath, neither with him whose arm holes, are offensive. What can he do? such is…
- Mortality Be not deceived; for thou shalt never live to read thy moral commentaries, nor the acts of the famous Romans and…
- Courage Be not therefore ashamed, whensoever thou must use the help of others. For whatsoever it be that lieth upon thee to…
- Justice Begin yet higher, even from this: if atoms be not the beginning of all things, than which to believe nothing can be…
- Wisdom Behold and observe, what is the state of their rational part; and those that the world doth account wise, see what…
- Discipline Build your life deed by deed, satisfied when each reaches its proper end. If an outward obstacle appears, it cannot…
- Wisdom But as for those which by the vulgar are esteemed good, if he shall hear them mentioned as good, he doth hearken for…
- Acceptance But this thou mayest be sure of, that this (if it be so indeed) would never have been so ordered by the Gods, had it…
- Purpose But whatsoever it is that thou art about, remember to call upon the Gods. And as for the time how long thou shalt live…
- Temperance By one action judge of the rest: this bathing which usually takes up so much of our time, what is it? Oil, sweat,…
- Control Cast away from thee opinion, and thou art safe. And what is it that hinders thee from casting of it away?
- Acceptance Change contains no evil, just as remaining in a new condition contains no good.
- Wisdom Changing your view and accepting correction are acts of free will. The action remains yours, guided by your purpose,…
- Mortality Children's anger, mere babels; wretched souls bearing up dead bodies, that they may not have their fall so soon: even…
- Wisdom Collect yourself. As one waking from a troubling dream sees it for what it was, wake up and see that the things…
- Wisdom Conceit no such things, as he that wrongeth thee conceiveth, or would have thee to conceive, but look into the matter…
- Wisdom Consider all matter and your tiny share; all time and your nearly instant portion; all fate and your minute place…
- Wisdom Consider earlier ages: people married, raised children, fell sick, died, traded, schemed, loved, sought office, and…
- Wisdom Consider how many different things, whether they concern our bodies, or our souls, in a moment of time come to pass in…
- Acceptance Consider how quickly all things are dissolved and resolved: the bodies and substances themselves, into the matter and…
- Mortality Consider now the death of a whole kindred and family, as of that of the Pompeys, as that also that useth to be written…
- Wisdom Consider them through all actions and occupations, of their lives: as when they eat, and when they sleep: when they…
- Wisdom Consider with thyself how man, and by what part of his, is joined unto God, and how that part of man is affected, when…
- Justice Continue then to take notice of it, as thou hast begun, and whatsoever thou dost, do it not without this proviso, that…
- Discipline Contract thy whole life to the measure and proportion of one single action. And if in every particular action thou…
- Mortality Cross this short span of life in accord with nature, then arrive at your final rest with grace, as a ripe olive falls,…
- Mortality Death is a cessation from the impression of the senses, the tyranny of the passions, the errors of the mind, and the…
- Justice Dig within yourself: there is a spring of goodness there, ready to flow whenever you continue digging.
- Wisdom Do not approach philosophy like a strict overseer. Go to it as the sick go for treatment: for sore eyes, a burn, or a…
- Courage Do not be ashamed to need assistance. You have a duty like a soldier at the wall; if you are hurt and cannot climb…
- Justice Do not be tossed about. Bring every impulse before justice, and preserve your sound judgment whenever appearances…
- Discipline Do not delay in action, muddle speech, scatter thought, make your soul either passive or hostile, or fill life…
- Purpose Do not evade the work your role requires, whether cold or tired, praised or insulted, dying or distracted. Even death…
- Courage Do not ever conceive anything impossible to man, which by thee cannot, or not without much difficulty be effected; but…
- Acceptance Do not grant circumstances the power to awaken your anger; they take no notice of it.
- Acceptance Do not grieve over it, and do not let yourself be thrown into turmoil.
- Acceptance Do not let the whole course of your life overwhelm you. Stay with the present hardship and ask why it is truly…
- Justice Do not let yourself become an emperor in spirit; remain simple, upright, kind, just, and strong in your proper work.
- Mortality Do not live as if you had endless years ahead. Death stands near; while you are able, become good.
- Gratitude Do not treat what you lack as already yours. Value the things you have by imagining their absence, but do not cling so…
- Wisdom Do nothing against thy will, nor contrary to the community, nor without due examination, nor with reluctancy. Affect…
- Temperance Do nothing grudgingly or selfishly; avoid needless display, excess speech, and dependence on another's support.
- Control Do, soul, do; abuse and contemn thyself; yet a while and the time for thee to respect thyself, will be at an end.…
- Purpose Do what nature asks of you now, if it lies in your power. Do not wait to be noticed or for an ideal commonwealth;…
- Mortality Dost thou grieve that thou dost weigh but so many pounds, and not three hundred rather? Just as much reason hast thou…
- Wisdom Dost thou not see, how even those that profess mechanic arts, though in some respect they be no better than mere…
- Purpose Doth either the sun take upon him to do that which belongs to the rain? or his son Aesculapius that, which unto the…
- Acceptance Either all things by the providence of reason happen unto every particular, as a part of one general body; and then it…
- Acceptance Either fate, (and that either an absolute necessity, and unavoidable decree; or a placable and flexible Providence) or…
- Acceptance Either this world is a κόσμος, or comely piece, because all disposed and governed by certain order: or if it be a…
- Courage Either thou dost Continue in this kind of life and that is it, which so long thou hast been used unto and therefore…
- Control Enough of this wretched complaining. Stop idling. What troubles you? Look at the cause or at the matter itself. As for…
- Mortality Even as if any of the gods should tell thee, Thou shalt certainly die to-morrow, or next day, thou wouldst not, except…
- Mortality Even if you lived for ages beyond counting, you lose only the life now being lived. The present is equal for all, and…
- Justice Ever consider and think upon the world as being but one living substance, and having but one soul, and how all things…
- Wisdom Ever to mind and consider with thyself; how all things that now are, have been heretofore much after the same sort,…
- Wisdom Ever to represent unto thyself; and to set before thee, both the general age and time of the world, and the whole…
- Wisdom Every particular nature hath content, when in its own proper course it speeds. A reasonable nature doth then speed,…
- Justice Every soul lacks truth unwillingly; the same is true of justice, moderation, and goodwill. Keep this in mind, and you…
- Wisdom Everything depends on the judgment you attach to it, and that judgment is yours. Remove it when you choose, and you…
- Wisdom Examine closely the governing principles of others, especially the wise: see what they avoid and what they pursue.
- Wisdom First, do not be shaken. Then look directly at the task, remembering that your aim is to be a good person. Do what…
- Acceptance First; let it not trouble thee. For all things both good and evil: come to pass according to the nature and general…
- Acceptance Fit and accommodate thyself to that estate and to those occurrences, which by the destinies have been annexed unto…
- Mortality For a day only endure both the one who remembers and the one remembered.
- Discipline For all these things, if once though but for a while, they begin to please, they presently prevail, and pervert a…
- Justice For if thou shalt not be sensible of thine innocence; if that also shall be gone from thee, the comfort of a good…
- Control For not observing the state of another man's soul, scarce was ever any man known to be unhappy. Tell whosoever they be…
- Temperance For peace, do not merely do fewer things; do what a rational, social being must do, and do it well. Restrain needless…
- Wisdom For the motion of the mind to any injustice, or incontinency, or to sorrow, or to fear, is nothing else but a…
- Wisdom For these also, these famous soldiers and warlike men, if thou dost look into their minds and opinions, what do they…
- Purpose For without relation unto God, thou shalt never speed in any worldly actions; nor on the other side in any divine,…
- Acceptance Forbear henceforth to complain of the trouble of a courtly life, either in public before others, or in private by…
- Wisdom Four several dispositions or inclinations there be of the mind and understanding, which to be aware of, thou must…
- Courage Free from all compulsion in all cheerfulness and alacrity thou mayst run out thy time, though men should exclaim…
- Justice From Alexander the Grammarian, to be un-reprovable myself, and not reproachfully to reprehend any man for a barbarism,…
- Wisdom From Rusticus I learned to read with care, not to rest satisfied with a broad, shallow grasp, and not to agree too…
- Wisdom Generally then, whatsoever it be, besides virtue, and those things that proceed from virtue that thou art subject to…
- Temperance Getting what you wanted might feel pleasant, but that is why pleasure can mislead. Consider instead the greater goods:…
- Wisdom Give each action attention in proportion to its value. Then you will not grow weary by spending more effort than…
- Acceptance Give what thou wilt, and take away what thou wilt, saith he that is well taught and truly modest, to Him that gives,…
- Wisdom Go to the quality of the cause from which the effect doth proceed. Behold it by itself bare and naked, separated from…
- Justice Has another done wrong to me? That is for him to consider; he has his own character and concerns. I have what…
- Wisdom Hast thou reason? I have. Why then makest thou not use of it? For if thy reason do her part, what more canst thou…
- Wisdom Hath not yet experience taught thee to fly from the plague? For a far greater plague is the corruption of the mind,…
- Justice Have I done anything charitably? then am I benefited by it. See that this upon all occasions may present itself unto…
- Wisdom He hath a stronger body, and is a better wrestler than I. What then? Is he more bountiful? is he more modest? Doth he…
- Wisdom He is a true fugitive, that flies from reason, by which men are sociable. He blind, who cannot see with the eyes of…
- Mortality He that feareth death, either feareth that he shall have no sense at all, or that his senses will not be the same.…
- Purpose He that hath not one and the self-same general end always as long as he liveth, cannot possibly be one and the…
- Justice He that knoweth not what the world is, knoweth not where he himself is. And he that knoweth not what the world was…
- Justice He that sinneth, sinneth unto himself. He that is unjust, hurts himself, in that he makes himself worse than he was…
- Acceptance He therefore that forsakes the law, is a fugitive. So is he, whosoever he be, that is either sorry, angry, or afraid,…
- Justice Herein doth consist happiness of life, for a man to know thoroughly the true nature of everything; what is the matter,…
- Justice Him that offends, to teach with love and meek ness, and to show him his error. But if thou canst not, then to blame…
- Control Honour that which is chiefest and most powerful in the world, and that is it, which makes use of all things, and…
- Temperance How base and putrid, every common matter is! Water, dust, and from the mixture of these bones, and all that loathsome…
- Purpose How clearly doth it appear unto thee, that no other course of thy life could fit a true philosopher's practice better,…
- Justice How corrupt to announce, “I will speak frankly.” Your sincerity should need no notice; it should be visible in your…
- Wisdom How does your ruling mind govern itself? Everything else, whether chosen or not, is merely smoke and a lifeless thing…
- Control How easy a thing is it for a man to put off from him all turbulent adventitious imaginations, and presently to be in…
- Control How good it is to reject a disturbing, alien impression and at once restore peace within.
- Acceptance How happy is man in this his power that hath been granted unto him: that he needs not do anything but what God shall…
- Mortality How many of them who came into the world at the same time when I did, are already gone out of it?
- Acceptance How ridiculous and strange is he, that wonders at anything that happens in this life in the ordinary course of nature!
- Courage How Socrates looked, when he was fain to gird himself with a skin, Xanthippe his wife having taken away his clothes,…
- Purpose Human joy lies in proper human activity: kindness toward others, resistance to mere appetite, trustworthy judgment,…
- Wisdom I answer, That which thou sayest is true indeed, but the true meaning of that which is said, thou dost not understand.…
- Control I consist of body and soul. Unto my body all things are indifferent, for of itself it cannot affect one thing more…
- Wisdom I have often wondered how it should come to pass, that every man loving himself best, should more regard other men's…
- Acceptance If a cucumber is bitter, discard it. If thorns block the way, go around them. Why ask why such irritations exist?…
- Discipline if any should put this question unto thee, how this word Antoninus is written, wouldst thou not presently fix thine…
- Wisdom If anybody shall reprove me, and shall make it apparent unto me, that in any either opinion or action of mine I do…
- Justice If asked to spell your name, you would give the letters calmly, even if the questioner became angry. So remember that…
- Wisdom If he have sinned, his is the harm, not mine. But perchance he hath not.
- Justice If it be not fitting, do it not. If it be not true, speak it not. Ever maintain thine own purpose and resolution free…
- Wisdom If it were that thou hadst at one time both a stepmother, and a natural mother living, thou wouldst honour and respect…
- Control If it were thine act and in thine own power, wouldest thou do it? If it were not, whom dost tin accuse? the atoms, or…
- Wisdom If my present apprehension of the object be right, and my present action charitable, and this, towards whatsoever doth…
- Discipline If once round and solid, there is no fear that ever it will change.
- Acceptance If pain be an evil, either it is in regard of the body; (and that cannot be, because the body of itself is altogether…
- Courage If people do not marvel at your intelligence, let it be. You possess many qualities no birth can deny: honesty,…
- Mortality If so be that the souls remain after death (say they that will not believe it); how is the air from all eternity able…
- Justice If someone scorns me, that is their concern. Mine is to do and say nothing shameful. If someone hates me, I will…
- Wisdom If someone shows me that my thought or act is mistaken, I will gladly change, for I seek truth; deceit and ignorance…
- Mortality If the first, why should I desire to continue any longer in this fortuit confusion and commixtion? or why should I…
- Control If they can do nothing, why doest thou pray? If they can, why wouldst not thou rather pray, that they will grant unto…
- Wisdom If this neither be my wicked act, nor an act anyways depending from any wickedness of mine, and that by it the public…
- Wisdom If thou beest quick-sighted, be so in matter of judgment, and best discretion, saith he.
- Control If thou canst but withdraw conceit and opinion concerning that which may seem hurtful and offensive, thou thyself art…
- Discipline If thou shalt intend that which is present, following the rule of right and reason carefully, solidly, meekly, and…
- Justice If to understand and to be reasonable be common unto all men, then is that reason, for which we are termed reasonable,…
- Control If we call good and bad only what depends on our own choice, we have no reason to accuse the gods or resent other…
- Justice If you find anything in human life better than justice, truth, self-command, and courage—better than a mind sufficient…
- Control In another man's mind and understanding thy evil Cannot subsist, nor in any proper temper or distemper of the natural…
- Wisdom In matter of writing or reading thou must needs be taught before thou can do either: much more in matter of life. 'For…
- Courage 'In my sickness' (saith Epicurus of himself:) 'my discourses were not concerning the nature of my disease, neither was…
- Acceptance In sum, either there is a God, and then all is well; or if all things go by chance and fortune, yet mayest thou use…
- Wisdom In the ancient mystical letters of the Ephesians, there was an item, that a man should always have in his mind some…
- Wisdom In the country of the Quadi at Granua, these. Betimes in the morning say to thyself, This day I shalt have to do with…
- Justice In the morning as soon as thou art awaked, when thy judgment, before either thy affections, or external objects have…
- Temperance In the whole constitution of man, I see not any virtue contrary to justice, whereby it may be resisted and opposed.…
- Wisdom Infinite are the troubles and miseries, that thou hast already been put to, by reason of this only, because that for…
- Justice Injustice often appears not only in what you do, but in what you fail to do.
- Acceptance Is any man so foolish as to fear change, to which all things that once were not owe their being? And what is it, that…
- Acceptance Is it not a cruel thing to forbid men to affect those things, which they conceive to agree best with their own…
- Temperance Is it not for that respect especially, that pleasure itself is to so many men's hurt and overthrow, most prevalent,…
- Justice Is it so with thee, that hitherto thou hast neither by word or deed wronged any of them? Remember withal through how…
- Temperance Is this then a thing of that worth, that for it my soul should suffer, and become worse than it was? as either basely…
- Acceptance It is against himself that he doth offend: why should it trouble thee? Hath anything happened unto thee? It is well,…
- Mortality It is all one to see these things for a hundred of years together or but for three years.
- Discipline It is common to all trades and professions to mind and intend that only, which now they are about, and the instrument…
- Discipline It is high time for thee, to understand that there is somewhat in thee, better and more divine than either thy…
- Control It is in my power concerning this thing that is happened, what soever it be, to conceit that which is right and true.…
- Control It is in thy power absolutely to exclude all manner of conceit and opinion, as concerning this matter; and by the same…
- Justice It is most needful that thou shouldst always remember this. For so shalt thou be far more gentle and moderate towards…
- Wisdom It is not about ordinary petty matters, believe it, that all our strife and contention is, but whether, with the…
- Wisdom It is not by way of any suspicious indignation, but by way of gentle and friendly declination. Keep the same mind and…
- Wisdom It is not possible that any nature should be inferior unto art, since that all arts imitate nature. If this be so;…
- Control it is not thine, but another man's sin. Why should it trouble thee? Let him look to it, whose sin it is.
- Courage It is shameful when the spirit gives up before the body does.
- Acceptance It is that, that all men have ever been subject unto. That thou camest therefore I am not angry with thee, only…
- Acceptance It is that which many time and often thou hast already seen and known in the world. And so oft as anything doth happen…
- Mortality It is the part of a man endowed with a good understanding faculty, to consider what they themselves are in very deed,…
- Control 'It will but little avail thee, to turn thine anger and indignation upon the things themselves that have fallen across…
- Mortality It will suffice to remember, that all things in general are by certain order and appointment: or if it be but few. And…
- Wisdom Keep before your mind those consumed by anger, resentment, success, disaster, wrongdoing, or distinction. Ask where it…
- Justice Keep thyself therefore, truly simple, good, sincere, grave, free from all ostentation, a lover of that which is just,…
- Wisdom Keep thyself to the first bare and naked apprehensions of things, as they present themselves unto thee, and add not…
- Discipline Know at last that within you is something stronger and more divine than the forces that stir bodily passions and tug…
- Purpose Labour not as one to whom it is appointed to be wretched, nor as one that either would be pitied, or admired; but let…
- Wisdom Learn the art of assent, and keep impulses reserved, directed toward the common good, and measured by true value.
- Mortality Let death surprise me when it will, and where it will, I may be εὔμοιρος, or a happy man, nevertheless. For he is a…
- Mortality Let every deed, word, and intention be worthy of someone near life’s end.
- Justice Let him be deceived whosoever he be that shall have any such opinion of thee. For all this doth depend of thee. For…
- Control Let him look to that. He is master of his own disposition, and of his own operation. I for my part am in the meantime…
- Purpose Let it be thy earnest and incessant care as a Roman and a man to perform whatsoever it is that thou art about, with…
- Mortality Let it be thy perpetual meditation, how many physicians who once looked so grim, and so theatrically shrunk their…
- Control Let not that chief commanding part of thy soul be ever subject to any variation through any corporal either pain or…
- Control Let not the general representation unto thyself of the wretchedness of this our mortal life, trouble thee. Let not thy…
- Control Let not things future trouble thee. For if necessity so require that they come to pass, thou shalt (whensoever that…
- Wisdom Let nothing be done rashly, and at random, but all things according to the most exact and perfect rules of art.
- Control Let opinion be taken away, and no man will think himself wronged. If no man shall think himself wronged, then is there…
- Acceptance Let that of Heraclitus never be out of thy mind, that the death of earth, is water, and the death of water, is air;…
- Mortality Let the several deaths of men of all sorts, and of all sorts of professions, and of all sort of nations, be a…
- Courage Let them behold and see a man, that is a man indeed, living according to the true nature of man. If they cannot bear…
- Purpose Let these things suffice thee; let them be always unto thee, as thy general rules and precepts. As for thy thirst…
- Justice Let this be thy only joy, and thy only comfort, from one sociable kind action without intermission to pass unto…
- Acceptance Let this suffice. Add not presently speaking unto thyself, What serve these things for in the world? For, this, one…
- Justice Let this then be thy first ground, that thou art part of that universe, which is governed by nature. Then secondly,…
- Justice Let thy course ever be the most compendious way. The most compendious, is that which is according to nature: that is,…
- Wisdom Let thy mind penetrate both into the effects, and into the causes. Rejoice thyself with true simplicity, and modesty;…
- Mortality Let thy thoughts ever run upon them, who once for some one thing or other, were moved with extraordinary indignation;…
- Justice Let us do our best endeavours to persuade them; but however, if reason and justice lead thee to it, do it, though they…
- Courage Living resembles wrestling more than dancing, for it demands readiness to meet and withstand sudden, unforeseen attacks.
- Temperance Look carefully at the supposed pleasures of thieves, predators, murderers, and tyrants.
- Wisdom Look in, let not either the proper quality, or the true worth of anything pass thee, before thou hast fully…
- Acceptance Loss and corruption, is in very deed nothing else but change and alteration; and that is it, which the nature of the…
- Purpose Love the modest craft you have learned and find rest in it. Entrust the rest to the gods, making yourself neither…
- Discipline Make it not any longer a matter of dispute or discourse, what are the signs and proprieties of a good man, but really…
- Purpose Man, God, the world, every one in their kind, bear some fruits. All things have their proper time to bear. Though by…
- Control Many of those things that trouble and straiten thee, it is in thy power to cut off, as wholly depending from mere…
- Justice Meditate often upon the connection of all things in the world; and upon the mutual relation that they have one unto…
- Discipline Most justly have these things happened unto thee: why dost not thou amend? O but thou hadst rather become good…
- Justice My city and country as I am Antoninus, is Rome; as a man, the whole world. Those things therefore that are expedient…
- Courage 'My heart smiled within me.' 'They will accuse even virtue herself; with heinous and opprobrious words.'
- Control My reasoned choice is independent of my neighbor’s, as of their body or breath. Though made for cooperation, each…
- Courage Nature gives rational beings the power to turn obstacles and opposition toward their purpose; each person can make a…
- Acceptance Nature hath its end as well in the end and final consummation of anything that is, as in the begin-nine and…
- Temperance Nature hath of that also, as well as of eating and drinking, allowed thee a certain stint. But thou guest beyond thy…
- Justice Never esteem of anything as profitable, which shall ever constrain thee either to break thy faith, or to lose thy…
- Temperance Never wont to use the baths at unseasonable hours; no builder; never curious, or solicitous, either about his meat, or…
- Courage No man can hinder thee to live as thy nature doth require. Nothing can happen unto thee, but what the common good of…
- Acceptance No operation whatsoever it he, ceasing for a while, can be truly said to suffer any evil, because it is at an end.…
- Mortality Not as though thou hadst thousands of years to live. Death hangs over thee: whilst yet thou livest, whilst thou…
- Purpose Not in syllogisms, and logical subtilties, not in wealth, not in honour and reputation, not in pleasure. In none of…
- Justice Not only now henceforth to have a common breath, or to hold correspondency of breath, with that air, that compasseth…
- Temperance Not to be slack and negligent; or loose, and wanton in thy actions; nor contentious, and troublesome in thy…
- Justice Not to wander out of the way, but upon every motion and desire, to perform that which is just: and ever to be careful…
- Control Nothing can block the purposes of your mind. Fire, weapons, rulers, insults, and every other threat leave it untouched.
- Acceptance Nothing can happen unto thee, which is not incidental unto thee, as thou art a man. As nothing can happen either to an…
- Justice Nothing is more wretched than a wolf posing as a sheep. Flee false friendship. If you are good, candid, and…
- Discipline Now much time and leisure doth he gain, who is not curious to know what his neighbour hath said, or hath done, or hath…
- Courage O foolery! For what if they did, would their masters be sensible of It? or if sensible, would they be glad of it? or…
- Mortality O man! as a citizen thou hast lived, and conversed in this great city the world. Whether just for so many years, or…
- Purpose O man! what ado doest thou keep? Do what thy nature doth now require. Resolve upon it, if thou mayest: and take no…
- Justice O my soul, the time I trust will be, when thou shalt be good, simple, single, more open and visible, than that body by…
- Wisdom Observe the stars in their courses as though you moved with them; reflect on nature's changes, for this clears away…
- Justice Of Alexander the Platonic, not often nor without great necessity to say, or to write to any man in a letter, 'I am not…
- Justice Of all my thoughts and cares, one only thing shall be the object, that I myself do nothing which to the proper…
- Justice Of all unreasonable creatures, there is but one unreasonable soul; and of all that are reasonable, but one reasonable…
- Acceptance Of an operation and of a purpose there is an ending, or of an action and of a purpose we say commonly, that it is at…
- Justice Of Catulus, not to contemn any friend's expostulation, though unjust, but to strive to reduce him to his former…
- Wisdom Of Diognetus, not to busy myself about vain things, and not easily to believe those things, which are commonly spoken,…
- Wisdom Of everything that presents itself unto thee, to consider what the true nature of it is, and to unfold it, as it were,…
- Acceptance Of everything therefore thou must use thyself to say, This immediately comes from God, this by that fatal connection,…
- Justice Of Fronto, to how much envy and fraud and hypocrisy the state of a tyrannous king is subject unto, and how they who…
- Gratitude Of him also I learned how to receive favours and kindnesses (as commonly they are accounted:) from friends, so that I…
- Discipline Of him also, to observe a constant tenor, (not interrupted, with any other cares and distractions,) in the study and…
- Temperance Of him that brought me up, not to be fondly addicted to either of the two great factions of the coursers in the…
- Justice Of his, that thou mayest consider whether in the estate of ignorance, or of knowledge. And then also must thou call to…
- Justice Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. From the fame…
- Mortality Of others, even that which was fabulous, is now long since forgotten. This thereafter thou must remember, that…
- Acceptance Of the same nature is sickness and death; slander, and lying in wait, and whatsoever else ordinarily doth unto fools…
- Control Of these the two former, are so far forth thine, as that thou art bound to take care for them. But the third alone is…
- Control Of things that are external, happen what will to that which can suffer by external accidents. Those things that suffer…
- Justice On waking, remind yourself that you will meet intrusive, ungrateful, vain, deceitful, jealous, and irritable people;…
- Justice One person helps and demands repayment; another remembers the debt; a third does good like a vine bears fruit—then…
- Wisdom One who follows reason in everything is both at ease and ready for action—cheerful and composed together.
- Discipline Or if thou do, return unto them again with all possible speed. And remember, that the word ἔμφρων notes unto thee an…
- Control Others may block an act, but not your purpose or disposition. The mind can adapt, making a barrier serve its aim: what…
- Courage Out of Antisthenes. 'It is a princely thing to do well, and to be ill-spoken of. It is a shameful thing that the face…
- Mortality Out of Plato. 'He then whose mind is endowed with true magnanimity, who hath accustomed himself to the contemplation…
- Courage People may oppose your rational path but cannot prevent sound action. Do not let them drive away your goodwill; keep…
- Purpose People neglect the praise of those whose lives they share, yet hunger for applause from generations they will never…
- Wisdom People seek refuge in the country, at the shore, and in the hills; yet at any moment they may withdraw into…
- Wisdom Plato spoke well: when considering human affairs, look down from above and take in crowds, armies, fields, unions and…
- Control Pray in another way: not to possess what you crave, but to be free of the craving; not for another's ruin, but for…
- Control Pursuing what cannot be achieved is folly; yet the ignoble person pursues nothing else.
- Acceptance Put aside what is past, leave the future to the larger order, and direct the present toward reverence and justice:…
- Wisdom Reason moves freely when it accepts no falsehood, aims only at the common good, desires only what it can govern, and…
- Gratitude Receive temporal blessings without ostentation, when they are sent and thou shalt be able to part with them with all…
- Justice Reflect often on how all things are connected and depend on one another. They are woven together, each following…
- Mortality Reflect often on how swiftly all things are carried past us: existence flows like a river, actions keep changing,…
- Acceptance Regard the life already lived as finished; receive what remains as a gift, and live it in accord with nature. Love the…
- Discipline Remember how long thou hast already put off these things, and how often a certain day and hour as it were, having been…
- Wisdom Remember that all is but opinion and conceit, for those things are plain and apparent, which were spoken unto Monimus…
- Control Remember that all is but opinion, and all opinion depends of the mind. Take thine opinion away, and then as a ship…
- Acceptance Remember, that as it is a shame for any man to wonder that a fig tree should bear figs, so also to wonder that the…
- Courage Remember that thy mind is of that nature as that it becometh altogether unconquerable, when once recollected in…
- Wisdom Remember, that to change thy mind upon occasion, and to follow him that is able to rectify thee, is equally ingenuous,…
- Temperance Remember the fable of the country mouse and the city mouse, and the great fright and terror that this was put into.
- Mortality Remembering moreover, that this care and circumspection of thine, is to continue but for a while, and then thy life…
- Control Remove the belief that you have been harmed, and the harm is removed; remove the sense of injury, and injury vanishes.
- Temperance Repentance is an inward and self-reprehension for the neglect or omission of somewhat that was profitable. Now…
- Justice Return quickly to your own reason, to the reason of the whole, and to your neighbor's: make your mind just, remember…
- Wisdom Revere your power of understanding: it keeps the ruling mind from admitting what conflicts with nature, reason, care…
- Temperance Sayest thou unto that rational part, Thou art dead; corruption hath taken hold on thee? Doth it then also void…
- Temperance Secondly, when she either is averse from any man, or led by contrary desires or affections, tending to his hurt and…
- Wisdom See what Crates pronounceth concerning Xenocrates himself.
- Wisdom Set your mind first on unquestioned goods—wisdom, self-command, justice, courage—and the crowd's claims will lose…
- Justice Shall I do it? I will; so the end of my action be to do good unto men. Doth anything by way of cross or adversity…
- Courage She cannot be dyed or infected by it. What then must I do, that I may have within myself an overflowing fountain, and…
- Wisdom Sift their minds and understandings, and behold what men they be, whom thou dost stand in fear of what they shall…
- Justice Sincere kindness cannot be overcome. What can a malicious person do when you remain kind and gently correct them, if…
- Justice Skill at defeating an opponent does not make someone more civic-minded, modest, prepared for hardship, or patient with…
- Acceptance So figs are accounted fairest and ripest then, when they begin to shrink, and wither as it were. So ripe olives, when…
- Courage So may every reasonable creature, what crosses and impediments soever it meets with in the course of this mortal life,…
- Wisdom Socrates said, 'What will you have? the souls of reasonable, or unreasonable creatures? Of reasonable. But what? Of…
- Courage Socrates was wont to call the common conceits and opinions of men, the common bugbears of the world: the proper terror…
- Acceptance Some things hasten to be, and others to be no more. And even whatsoever now is, some part thereof hath already…
- Purpose Someone ignorant of the universe does not know where they stand. Someone ignorant of life's purpose knows neither…
- Mortality Soon you will die, yet you remain insincere, unsettled, and suspicious of externals; you are not gracious, though…
- Wisdom Spectacle, strife, fright, dullness, and servility destroy our principles whenever the mind receives them without…
- Wisdom Stir up thy mind, and recall thy wits again from thy natural dreams, and visions, and when thou art perfectly awoken,…
- Discipline Stop complaining about public burdens—even in private, even to yourself.
- Purpose Stop drifting. You may never read your notes or cherished books later. Pursue life’s purpose, abandon empty hopes, and…
- Justice Straight of itself, not made straight.
- Temperance Strip appearances down: fine food, wine, clothing, and desire become ordinary matter when seen without embellishment.
- Wisdom Such and such things, from such and such causes, must of necessity proceed. He that would not have such things to…
- Wisdom Such as thy thoughts and ordinary cogitations are, such will thy mind be in time. For the soul doth as it were receive…
- Justice Take heed lest at any time thou stand so affected, though towards unnatural evil men, as ordinary men are commonly one…
- Control Take me and throw me where thou wilt: I am indifferent. For there also I shall have that spirit which is within me…
- Discipline Tell yourself: you are no longer to be ruled like a slave by every urge. Do not be jerked about by each impulse; stop…
- Gratitude That I have had such a brother, who by his own example might stir me up to think of myself; and by his respect and…
- Control That inward mistress part of man if it be in its own true natural temper, is towards all worldly chances and events…
- Acceptance That is best for every one, that the common nature of all doth send unto every one, and then is it best, when she doth…
- Justice That rational essence by which the universe is governed, is for community and society; and therefore hath it both made…
- Temperance That soul which is ever ready, even now presently (if need be) from the body, whether by way of extinction, or…
- Mortality That then which is longest of duration, and that which is shortest, come both to one effect. For although in regard of…
- Acceptance That which is a hindrance of the appetitive and prosecutive faculty, is an evil to the sensitive nature. As of the…
- Justice That which is not good for the bee-hive, cannot be good for the bee.
- Gratitude That which most men would think themselves most happy for, and would prefer before all things, if the Gods would grant…
- Wisdom That which must be the subject of thy consideration, is either the matter itself, or the dogma, or the operation, or…
- Acceptance That which the nature of the universe doth busy herself about, is; that which is here, to transfer it thither, to…
- Control The ambitious supposeth another man's act, praise and applause, to be his own happiness; the voluptuous his own sense…
- Courage The art of true living in this world is more like a wrestler's, than a dancer's practice. For in this they both agree,…
- Justice The best kind of revenge is, not to become like unto them.
- Mortality The Chaldeans and Astrologians having foretold the deaths of divers, were afterwards themselves surprised by the…
- Discipline The completed character spends each day as a last one: without frenzy, idleness, or pretense.
- Acceptance The earth, saith the poet, doth often long after the rain. So is the glorious sky often as desirous to fall upon the…
- Wisdom The end and object of a rational constitution is, to do nothing rashly, to be kindly affected towards men, and in all…
- Control The final ends and consummations of actions are nothing at all to a man's nature. The end therefore of a man, or the…
- Justice The finest revenge is refusing to become like the one who wronged you.
- Justice The form of the Athenians' prayer did run thus: 'O rain, rain, good Jupiter, upon all the grounds and fields that…
- Justice The Gods themselves are good unto such; yea and in some things, (as in matter of health, of wealth, of honour,) are…
- Purpose The gods will do thee no hurt, thou mayest be sure. But if it be so that there be no gods, or that they take no care…
- Justice The joy that thou takest in the exercise of bounty, is not yet grounded upon a due ratiocination and right…
- Justice The Lacedæmonians at their public spectacles were wont to appoint seats and forms for their strangers in the shadow,…
- Mortality The life of such an one, death can never surprise as imperfect; as of an actor, that should die before he had ended,…
- Acceptance The matter itself, of which the universe doth consist, is of itself very tractable and pliable. That rational essence…
- Justice The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now…
- Wisdom The motion of the mind is not as the motion of a dart. For the mind when it is wary and cautelous, and by way of…
- Control The natural properties, and privileges of a reasonable soul are: That she seeth herself; that she can order, and…
- Acceptance The nature of the universe did once certainly before it was created, whatsoever it hath done since, deliberate and so…
- Acceptance The nature of the universe, of the common substance of all things as it were of so much wax hath now perchance formed…
- Acceptance The next, that all these things, which now thou seest, shall within a very little while be changed, and be no more:…
- Wisdom The Pythagoreans were wont betimes in the morning the first thing they did, to look up unto the heavens, to put…
- Control The rational commanding part, as it alone can stir up and turn itself; so it maketh both itself to be, and everything…
- Wisdom The rational soul knows itself, examines itself, and chooses itself; it gathers the fruit of its own purpose.
- Discipline The second is, that he yield not to any lusts and motions of the flesh. For it is the part and privilege of the…
- Acceptance The Second to the first original cause, God, from whom originally proceeds whatsoever doth happen in the world. The…
- Wisdom The soul is shaped by the thoughts it repeatedly entertains, since such ideas give it its color.
- Justice The sun seemeth to be shed abroad. And indeed it is diffused but not effused. For that diffusion of it is a τάσις or…
- Control The things themselves that affect us, they stand without doors, neither knowing anything themselves nor able to utter…
- Control The things themselves (which either to get or to avoid thou art put to so much trouble) come not unto thee themselves;…
- Mortality The time of a man's life is as a point; the substance of it ever flowing, the sense obscure; and the whole composition…
- Acceptance The universe is transformation; our life is shaped by judgment.
- Justice The unjust person defies the order of nature, for rational creatures were made for one another’s benefit, not their…
- Acceptance The whole space of any man's life, is but little; and as little as it is, with what troubles, with what manner of…
- Mortality Then hath a man attained to the estate of perfection in his life and conversation, when he so spends every day, as if…
- Temperance Then is the soul as Empedocles doth liken it, like unto a sphere or globe, when she is all of one form and figure:…
- Temperance Theophrastus, where he compares sin with sin (as after a vulgar sense such things I grant may be compared:) says well…
- Control There by thyself to put these questions to thyself or to enter in these considerations: What is my chief and principal…
- Justice There is but one light of the sun, though it be intercepted by walls and mountains, and other thousand objects. There…
- Control There is not any man that is so happy in his death, but that some of those that are by him when he dies, will be ready…
- Justice There is nothing more shameful than perfidious friendship. Above all things, that must be avoided. However true…
- Wisdom There is, who without so much as a coat; and there is, who without so much as a book, doth put philosophy in practice.…
- Wisdom These are enough: sound judgment in the present, action for the shared good in the present, and grateful acceptance in…
- Control These things thou must always have in mind: What is the nature of the universe, and what is mine—in particular: This…
- Justice These two rules, thou must have always in a readiness. First, do nothing at all, but what reason proceeding from that…
- Temperance They contemn one another, and yet they seek to please one another: and whilest they seek to surpass one another in…
- Temperance They will say commonly, Meddle not with many things, if thou wilt live cheerfully. Certainly there is nothing better,…
- Control Things pursued or avoided do not rush at you; in a sense you move toward them. Keep your judgment steady, and they too…
- Courage Think thyself fit and worthy to speak, or to do anything that is according to nature, and let not the reproach, or…
- Control This day I did come out of all my trouble. Nay I have cast out all my trouble; it should rather be for that which…
- Control This may ever be my comfort and security: my understanding, that ruleth over all, will not of itself bring trouble and…
- Temperance This purple robe, but sheep's hairs, dyed with the blood of a shellfish. So for coitus, it is but the attrition of an…
- Purpose This thou must ever be mindful of, as of this also, that a man's true happiness doth consist in very few things. And…
- Purpose This time that is now present, bestow thou upon thyself. They that rather hunt for fame after death, do not consider,…
- Wisdom This, what is it in itself, and by itself, according to its proper constitution? What is the substance of it? What is…
- Control Those things that are his own, and in his own power, he himself takes order, for that they be good: and as for those…
- Temperance Those things which the common sort of people do admire, are most of them such things as are very general, and may be…
- Control Those who chase applause make their welfare depend on others; lovers of pleasure make it depend on sensation. The…
- Mortality Thou art now ready to die, and yet hast thou not attained to that perfect simplicity: thou art yet subject to many…
- Discipline Thou hast no time nor opportunity to read. What then? Hast thou not time and opportunity to exercise thyself, not to…
- Wisdom Thou mayest always speed, if thou wilt but make choice of the right way; if in the course both of thine opinions and…
- Control Thou must be like a promontory of the sea, against which though the waves beat continually, yet it both itself stands,…
- Mortality Thou must comfort thyself in the expectation of thy natural dissolution, and in the meantime not grieve at the delay;…
- Mortality Thou must hasten therefore; not only because thou art every day nearer unto death than other, but also because that…
- Mortality Thou must not in matter of death carry thyself scornfully, but as one that is well pleased with it, as being one of…
- Discipline Thou must use thyself also to keep thy body fixed and steady; free from all loose fluctuant either motion, or posture.…
- Wisdom To a reasonable creature, the same action is both according to nature, and according to reason.
- Control To be capable of fancies and imaginations, is common to man and beast. To be violently drawn and moved by the lusts…
- Control To be cheerful, and to stand in no need, either of other men's help or attendance, or of that rest and tranquillity,…
- Acceptance To desire things impossible is the part of a mad man. But it is a thing impossible, that wicked man should not commit…
- Acceptance To find out, and set to thyself some certain way and method of contemplation, whereby thou mayest clearly discern and…
- Justice To go on straight, whither right and reason directed him, and by so doing to follow God, was the only thing that he…
- Justice To grow together like fellow branches in matter of good correspondence and affection; but not in matter of opinions.…
- Acceptance To live with the Gods. He liveth with the Gods, who at all times affords unto them the spectacle of a soul, both…
- Wisdom To look about, and with the eyes to follow the course of the stars and planets as though thou wouldst run with them;…
- Justice To pierce and penetrate into the estate of every one's understanding that thou hast to do with: as also to make the…
- Justice To righteousness, in speaking the truth freely, and without ambiguity; and in doing all things justly and discreetly.…
- Wisdom To steal, to sow, to buy, to be at rest, to see what is to be done (which is not seen by the eyes, but by another kind…
- Acceptance To suffer change can be no hurt; as no benefit it is, by change to attain to being. The age and time of the world is…
- Acceptance To the stone that is cast up, when it comes down it is no hurt unto it; as neither benefit, when it doth ascend.
- Acceptance To them that are sick of the jaundice, honey seems bitter; and to them that are bitten by a mad dog, the water…
- Gratitude To them that ask thee, Where hast thou seen the Gods, or how knowest thou certainly that there be Gods, that thou art…
- Wisdom To these ever-present helps and mementoes, let one more be added, ever to make a particular description and…
- Temperance To which end it was, that Diogenes took also the same liberty. After these, what were either the Middle, or New Comedy…
- Control To wipe away fancy, to use deliberation, to quench concupiscence, to keep the mind free to herself.
- Control Today I escaped pressure—or rather cast it out—for it was not in events but in the judgments I made about them.
- Discipline Toys and fooleries at home, wars abroad: sometimes terror, sometimes torpor, or stupid sloth: this is thy daily…
- Temperance Turn it over and inspect it: see what it becomes with age, sickness, or disgrace. Brief are praise and fame, memory…
- Courage Under, above, and about, are the motions of the elements; but the motion of virtue, is none of those motions, but is…
- Control Unto my free-will my neighbour's free-will, whoever he be, (as his life, or his bode), is altogether indifferent. For…
- Wisdom Upon every action that thou art about, put this question to thyself; How will this when it is done agree with me?…
- Wisdom Use thyself; as often, as thou seest any man do anything, presently (if it be possible) to say unto thyself, What is…
- Discipline Use thyself even unto those things that thou doest at first despair of. For the left hand we see, which for the most…
- Acceptance Use thyself therefore often to meditate upon this, that the nature of the universe delights in nothing more, than in…
- Justice Use thyself when any man speaks unto thee, so to hearken unto him, as that in the interim thou give not way to any…
- Wisdom Walk through the succession of past kingdoms; look ahead and you will see the same pattern. Whether forty years or an…
- Purpose We all work to one effect, some willingly, and with a rational apprehension of what we do: others without any such…
- Mortality We are incense grains cast upon one altar: one falls sooner, another later; the difference is nothing.
- Wisdom We can withhold judgment about a thing and keep it from disturbing the mind, because things themselves do not form our…
- Wisdom We love ourselves readily, yet often value others' judgment above our own. We give great weight to our peers' opinions…
- Purpose What a subject, and what a course of life is it, that thou doest so much desire to be rid of. For all these things,…
- Wisdom What are their minds and understandings; and what the things that they apply themselves unto: what do they love, and…
- Purpose What art and profession soever thou hast learned, endeavour to affect it, and comfort thyself in it; and pass the…
- Wisdom What art thou, that better and divine part excepted, but as Epictetus said well, a wretched soul, appointed to carry a…
- Wisdom What does my soul serve? Ask this often. Whose soul do I possess now: a child’s, a tyrant’s, a tame animal’s, or a…
- Justice What harms the hive cannot benefit the bee.
- Wisdom What is it then that should be dear unto us? to hear a clattering noise? if not that, then neither to be applauded by…
- Wisdom What is that that is slow, and yet quick? merry, and yet grave? He that in all things doth follow reason for his guide.
- Control What is the present estate of my understanding? For herein lieth all indeed. As for all other things, they are without…
- Wisdom What is the use that now at this present I make of my soul? Thus from time to time and upon all occasions thou must…
- Wisdom What manner of men they be whom they seek to please, and what to get, and by what actions: how soon time will cover…
- Purpose What object soever, our reasonable and sociable faculty doth meet with, that affords nothing either for the…
- Courage What pain soever thou art in, let this presently come to thy mind, that it is not a thing whereof thou needest to be…
- Temperance What remains worth valuing? To restrict action and restraint to what accords with the discipline that shapes us. This…
- Gratitude What Socrates answered unto Perdiccas, why he did not come unto him, Lest of all deaths I should die the worst kind of…
- Purpose What? To enjoy the operations of a sensitive soul; or of the appetitive faculty? or wouldst thou grow, and then…
- Control What use is there of suspicion at all? or, why should thoughts of mistrust, and suspicion concerning that which is…
- Justice What work are you here to do? To become a decent human being.
- Justice Whatever others say or do, I am bound to goodness—like gold or an emerald that keeps its own color regardless of what…
- Justice Whatsoever any man either doth or saith, thou must be good; not for any man's sake, but for thine own nature's sake;…
- Mortality Whatsoever dieth and falleth, however and wheresoever it die and fall, it cannot fall out of the world, here it have…
- Acceptance Whatsoever doth happen in the ordinary course and consequence of natural events, neither the Gods, (for it is not…
- Courage Whatsoever doth happen unto thee, thou art naturally by thy natural constitution either able, or not able to bear. If…
- Justice Whatsoever he said, all men believed him that as he spake, so he thought, and whatsoever he did, that he did it with a…
- Control Whatsoever I am, is either flesh, or life, or that which we commonly call the mistress and overruling part of man;…
- Acceptance Whatsoever in any kind doth happen to any one, is expedient to the whole. And thus much to content us might suffice,…
- Acceptance Whatsoever is expedient unto thee, O World, is expedient unto me; nothing can either be 'unseasonable unto me, or out…
- Mortality Whatsoever is material, doth soon vanish away into the common substance of the whole; and whatsoever is formal, or,…
- Purpose Whatsoever is, was made for something: as a horse, a vine. Why wonderest thou? The sun itself will say of itself, I…
- Acceptance Whatsoever it be that happens unto thee, it is that which from all time was appointed unto thee. For by the same…
- Mortality Whatsoever it is that thou goest about, consider of it by thyself, and ask thyself, What? because I shall do this no…
- Courage When a training partner strikes you roughly, do not hate or suspect them; watch carefully and avoid wisely, without…
- Control When an external event disturbs you, the trouble lies not in the event but in your judgment of it—and that judgment…
- Courage When anger begins to rise, remember: fury is not strength. Kindness and courtesy are more truly human, and thus more…
- Justice When another wrongs you, ask at once what they thought good or bad in doing it. Seeing this, you will pity rather than…
- Wisdom When another's fault provokes you, turn at once to your own related errors—your attachment to gain, pleasure, or…
- Wisdom When any shall either impeach thee with false accusations, or hatefully reproach thee, or shall use any such carriage…
- Acceptance When at any time thou art offended with any one's impudency, put presently this question to thyself: 'What? Is it then…
- Discipline When circumstances throw you into confusion, recover yourself quickly. Do not remain out of rhythm longer than needed;…
- Purpose When getting up is difficult, remember that nature made you to work with others. Even animals share sleep; our proper…
- Acceptance When pain comes, remember it is no disgrace and cannot corrupt your ruling mind or prevent rational, social action. Do…
- Discipline When rising feels hard, remember: I am getting up for a human being’s work. Was I made merely to lie warm, or to act…
- Justice When someone errs, correct them gently and show the overlooked point; if you cannot, fault yourself—or no one.
- Courage When something seems hard for you, do not judge it impossible. What is possible and fitting for another person is…
- Purpose When thou art hard to be stirred up and awaked out of thy sleep, admonish thyself and call to mind, that, to perform…
- Wisdom When thou art offended with any man's transgression, presently reflect upon thyself; and consider what thou thyself…
- Justice When thou hast done well, and another is benefited by thy action, must thou like a very fool look for a third thing…
- Wisdom When thou seest Satyro, think of Socraticus and Eutyches, or Hymen, and when Euphrates, think of Eutychio, and…
- Gratitude When thou wilt comfort and cheer thyself, call to mind the several gifts and virtues of them, whom thou dost daily…
- Wisdom Whensoever any man doth trespass against other, presently consider with thyself what it was that he did suppose to be…
- Control Whensoever by some present hard occurrences thou art constrained to be in some sort troubled and vexed, return unto…
- Wisdom Where the matter may be effected agreeably to that reason, which both unto the Gods and men is common, there can be no…
- Justice Wherever one is able to live, one can live well; even in the business of the courts, a good life is possible.
- Acceptance Whether of those things that happened unto him by God's appointment, he neither did wonder at any when it did happen,…
- Justice Whether thou speak in the Senate or whether thou speak to any particular, let thy speech In always grave and modest.…
- Justice Who can choose but wonder at them? They will not speak well of them that are at the same time with them, and live with…
- Justice Whoever commits injustice injures themselves. The unjust person makes their own character worse.
- Wisdom Whoever has seen the present has seen all things: what has happened from the beginning and what will continue forever,…
- Justice Whosoever thou art, thou art such, thou art cast forth I know not whither out of the general unity, which is according…
- Wisdom Why rage at bad breath or body odor? Such a body produces such effects. If someone can understand their impact, use…
- Purpose Why should any of these things that happen externally, so much distract thee? Give thyself leisure to learn some good…
- Justice Why should I grieve myself; who never did willingly grieve any other! One thing rejoices one and another thing another.
- Wisdom Why should imprudent unlearned souls trouble that which is both learned, and prudent? And which is that that is so?…
- Courage Why then should that rather be an unhappiness, than this a happiness? But however, canst thou, O man! term that…
- Mortality Why then shouldest thou so earnestly either seek after these things, or fly from them, as though they should endure…
- Control Will any contemn me? let him look to that, upon what grounds he does it: my care shall be that I may never be found…
- Acceptance Will either passengers, or patients, find fault and complain, either the one if they be well carried, or the others if…
- Justice Wind up thyself into thyself. Such is the nature of thy reasonable commanding part, as that if it exercise justice,…
- Wisdom Wipe away false impressions by telling yourself continually: my soul can exclude any evil, desire, or disturbance. I…
- Control Wipe off all idle fancies, and say unto thyself incessantly; Now if I will, it is in my power to keep out of this my…
- Mortality 'With meats and drinks and divers charms, they seek to divert the channel, that they might not die. Yet must we needs…
- Mortality Within a while the earth shall cover us all, and then she herself shall have her change. And then the course will be,…
- Wisdom Within ten days, if so happen, thou shalt be esteemed a god of them, who now if thou shalt return to the dogmata and…
- Wisdom Word after word, every one by itself, must the things that are spoken be conceived and understood; and so the things…
- Temperance You can humble your pride, master pleasure and pain, set ambition aside, and meet foolish, thankless people without…
- Gratitude You can possess now what you pray to gain by a long route, if only you stop withholding it from yourself.
- Control You consist of body, breath, and mind. The first two are entrusted to your care; only the mind is truly your own.
- Mortality You do not resent having a given weight rather than twice it; why resent receiving a given span of life rather than…
- Wisdom You have suffered greatly because you would not let your ruling mind perform the work for which it was made. Enough.
- Discipline You receive what you choose: instead of being good today, you decide to put goodness off until tomorrow.
- Control You say fortune once met you everywhere. Yet fortunate people create their own fortune through a well-ordered soul,…
- Justice You will sooner find earth separated from the ground than a human being wholly apart from other people.
- Discipline Your guiding principles cannot be put out unless you extinguish the thoughts that sustain them, for new thoughts are…
- Justice Your long wandering proves that the art of living was not found in logic, wealth, reputation, or pleasure. It lies in…
- Discipline Your ruling mind is unconquerable when it relies on itself and refuses what it judges contrary to its will. With…