After all, what does fame everlasting mean? Mere vanity.

...the sole thing of which any man can be deprived is the present; since this is all he owns, and nobody can lose what is not his.

To understand the true quality of people, you must look into their minds, and examine their pursuits and aversions.

An angry look on the face is wholly against nature. If it be assumed frequently, beauty begins to perish, and in the end is quenched beyond rekindling.

Run down the list of those who felt intense anger at something: the most famous, the most unfortunate, the most hated, the most whatever: Where is all that now? Smoke, dust, legend...or not even a legend. Think of all the examples. And how trivial the things we want so passionately are.

A man should be upright, not kept upright.

While you live, while it is in your power, be good.