I don't confuse greatness with perfection. To be great anyhow is the higher achievement.

How could you be a Great Man if history brought you no Great Events, or brought you to them at the wrong time, too young, too old?

I don't want power. I just object to idiots having power over me.

Anything worth achieving is worth overachieving.

But pain seems to me an insufficient reason not to embrace life. Being dead is quite painless. Pain, like time, is going to come on regardless. Question is, what glorious moments can you win from life in addition to the pain?

Do it for yourself. The universe will be around to collect its cut later.

Endure pain, find joy, and make your own meaning, because the universe certainly isn't going to supply it.