Inquire of thyself as soon as thou wakest from sleep, whether it will make any difference to thee, if another does what is just and right. It will make no difference.

It's silly to try to escape other people's faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.

It is a ridiculous thing for a man not to fly from his own badness, which is indeed possible, but to fly from other men's badness, which is impossible.

I often wonder how it is that most people value their own lives above others, yet value other's opinions of them over their own self-opinions.

Everyone gets one life. Yours is almost used up, and instead of treating yourself with respect, you have entrusted your own happiness to the souls of others.

How to act: Never under compulsion, out of selfishness, without forethought, with misgivings. Don't gussy up your thoughts. No surplus words or unnecessary actions. Let the spirit in you represent a man, an adult, a citizen, a Roman, a ruler. Taking up his post like a soldier and patiently awaiting his recall from life. Needing no oath or witness. Cheerfulness. Without requiring other people's help. Or serenity supplied by others. To stand up straight—not straightened.

Be content to seem what you really are.

Look within. Within is the fountain of Good, ready always to well forth if thou wilt alway delve.

The most noble thing is to be yourself.

What one has, one ought to use; and whatever he does, he should do with all his might.

What confronts us, now the excitement's over, is our own failure.

How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to their minds the events of the whole day and consider exactly what has been good and bad. Then without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day.