All human beings seek the happy life, but many confuse the means - for example, wealth and status - with that life itself. This misguided focus on the means to a good life makes people get further from the happy life. The really worthwhile things are the virtuous activities that make up the happy life, not the external means that may seem to produce it.

Man is not fully free unless he is master of himself.

Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort.

A man that seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society.

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.

Nothing outside the will can hinder or harm the will; it can only harm itself. If then we accept this, and, when things go amiss, are inclined to blame ourselves, remembering that judgment alone can disturb our peace and constancy, I swear to you by all the gods that we have made progress.

We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.