Dress not thy thoughts in too fine a raiment. And be not a man of superfluous words or superfluous deeds.

What springs from earth dissolves to earth again, and heaven-born things fly to their native seat.

I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.

Enough of this wretched life and murmuring and apish tricks. Why art thou disturbed? What is there new in this? What unsettles thee? Is it the form of the thing? Look at it. Or is it the matter? Look at it. But besides these there is nothing. Towards the gods, then, now become at last more simple and better. It is the same whether we examine these things for a hundred years or three.

Were you to live three thousand years, or even thirty thousand, remember that the sole life which a man can lose is that which he is living at the moment; and furthermore, that he can have no other life except the one he loses.

Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.

Take full account of what Excellencies you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.