Fight against yourself, recover yourself to decency, to modesty, to freedom. And, in the first place, condemn your actions; but when you have condemned them, do not despair of yourself. For both ruin and recovery are from within.

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

Give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths.

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

What disturbs and alarms man are not the things, but his opinions and fancies about the things.

A ship should not be held by a single anchor; neither should life depend upon a single hope.