From now on practice saying to everything that appears unpleasant: You are merely an appearance and NOT what you appear to be.

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

We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral.

Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, and desires and the demons that distract us from these goals. Outside of our control are such things as what kind of body we have, whether or not we are born into wealth, and how we are regarded by others.

In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.

When any person treats you ill or speaks ill of you, remember that he does this or says this because he thinks it is his duty. It is not possible, then, for him to follow that which seems right to you, but that which seems right to himself.

It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in indulging in wrongheaded, negative feelings. We do a better service to ourselves and others by remaining detached and avoiding melodramatic reactions.