Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet, than to have a golden couch and a rich table and be full of trouble.

A strict belief in fate is the worst of slavery, imposing upon our necks an everlasting lord and tyrant, whom we are to stand in awe of night and day.

Happiness is man's greatest aim in life. Tranquility and rationality are the cornerstones of happiness.

It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and honorably and justly, and it is impossible to live wisely and honorably and justly without living pleasantly. Whenever any one of these is lacking, when, for instance, the man is not able to live wisely, though he lives honorably and justly, it is impossible for him to live a pleasant life.

Against other things it is possible to obtain security, but when it comes to death we human beings all live in an unwalled city.

If death causes you no pain when you're dead, it is foolish to allow the fear of it to cause you pain now.