But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in your power whenever you choose to retire into yourself.

Not to waste time on nonsense. Not to be taken in by conjurors and hoodoo artists with their talk about incantations and exorcism and all the rest of it. Not to be obsessed with quail-fighting or other crazes like that.

The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.

By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered.

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

Take me and cast me where you will; I shall still be possessor of the divinity within me, serene and content.

Take away the complaint, 'I have been harmed,' and the harm is taken away.