Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence.

One of the recurring themes in Marcus' handbook is leadership's responsibility to work intelligently with what it is given and not waste time fantasizing about a world of flawless people and perfect choices.

All things are in the act of change; thou thyself in ceaseless transformation and partial decay, and the whole universe with thee.

Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.

As surgeons keep their instruments and knives always at hand for cases requiring immediate treatment, so shouldst thou have thy thoughts ready to understand things divine and human, remembering in thy every act, even the smallest, how close is the bond that unites the two.

Remember how often you have postponed minding your interest, and let slip those opportunities the gods have given you. It is now high time to consider what sort of world you are part of, and from what kind of governor of it you are descended; that you have a set period assigned you to act in, and unless you improve it to brighten and compose your thoughts, it will quickly run off with you, and be lost beyond recovery.

Soon you will have forgotten the world, and soon the world will have forgotten you.