No one can keep you from living as your nature requires. Nothings can happen to you that is not required by Nature.

When you have done a good deed that another has had the benefit of, why do you need a third reward-as fools do-praise for having done well or looking for a favor in return.

When men hate or blame you, or say hurtful things about you, look deeply into their hearts and see what kind of men they are. You'll see how unnecessary it is to strain after their good opinion. Yet you must still think kindly of them. they are your neighbors. The gods help them as they do you, by dreams and oracles, to win their hearts' desires.

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.

The blazing fire makes flames and brightness out of everything thrown into it.

If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of contempt.

A man's happiness,-to do the things proper to man.