You bear God within you, poor wretch, and know it not.

Neither the victories of the Olympic Games nor those achieved in battles make the man happy. The only victories that make him happy are those achieved against himself. Temptations and tests are combats. You have beaten one, two, many times; still fight. If you defeat at last you will be happy your entire life, as if you have always defeated.

We need to regularly stop and take stock; to sit down and determine within ourselves which things are worth valuing and which things are not; which risks are worth the cost and which are not. Even the most confusing or hurtful aspects of life can be made more tolerable by clear seeing and by choice.

It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.

Let silence be your general rule; or say only what is necessary and in few words.

No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.

Liars are the cause of all the sins and crimes in the world.