Men despise one another and flatter one another; and men wish to raise themselves above one another, and crouch before one another.
Marcus AureliusAnything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.
Marcus AureliusEverything - a horse, a vine - is created for some duty... For what task, then, were you yourself created?
Marcus Aurelius