Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life.

Everything is here for a purpose, from horses to vine shoots. What's surprising about that? Even the sun will tell you, "I have a purpose," and the other goods as well.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.

So you know how things stand. Now forget what they think of you. Be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short, as your nature demands. Focus on that, and don't let anything distract you. You've wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live. Not in syllogisms, not in money, or fame, or self-indulgence. Nowhere.

So much worse are the consequences of anger than its causes.

Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be, become one yourself!

If I and my two children cannot move the gods, the gods must have their reasons.