If you separate from . . . everything you have done in the past, everything that disturbs you about the future . . . and apply yourself to living the life that you are living-that is to say, the present-you can live all the time that remains to you until your death in calm, benevolence, and serenity.

Live each day as if it be your last.

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.

My only fear is doing something contrary to human nature - the wrong thing, the wrong way, or at the wrong time.

Nothing is evil which is according to nature.

It is within our power not to make a judgement about something, and so not disturb our minds; for nothing in itself possesses the power to form our judgements.

Consider when thou art much vexed or grieved, that man's life is only a moment, and after a short time we are all laid out dead.