In trying to please other people, we find ourselves misdirected toward what lies outside our sphere of influence. In doing so, we lose our hold on our lifes purpose.

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

Men are not troubled by things themselves, but by their thoughts about them

Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us, no matter what we are doing?... what do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you?... If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken, get to work on that.

When we blather about trivial things, we ourselves become trivial, for our attention gets taken up with trivialities. You become what you give your attention to.

Don't regard what anyone says of you, for this, after all, is no concern of yours.

To be getting an education means this: to be learning what is your own, and what is not your own.