You must become an old man in good time if you wish to be an old man long.

We must press on then, in haste; not simply because every hour brings us nearer to death, but because even before then our powers of perception and comprehension begin to deteriorate.

Life is a warfare and a stranger's sojourn, and after fame is oblivion.

Pass then through this little space of time conformably to nature, and end thy journey in content, just as an olive falls off when it is ripe, blessing nature who produced it, and thanking the tree on which it grew.

No one wearies of benefits received.

Be like the rocky headland on which the waves constantly break. It stands firm, and round it the seething waters are laid to rest.

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.