The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

The soul's impurity consists in bad judgements, and purification consists in producing in it right judgements, and the pure soul is one which has right judgements, for this alone is proof against confusion and pollution in its functions.

If you set your heart upon philosophy, you must straightway prepare yourself to be laughed at and mocked by many who will say Behold a philosopher arisen among us! or How came you by that brow of scorn? But do you cherish no scorn, but hold to those things which seem to you the best, as one set by God in that place. Remember too, that if you abide in those ways, those who first mocked you, the same shall afterwards reverence you; but if you yield to them, you will be laughed at twice as much as before.

Once you know who you are and to whom you are linked, you will know what to do

Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.