Marcus Aurelius

"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts."

"Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself this question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?"

"It is impossible for a man to be entirely free while living under law."

"Death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back."

"Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible."

"The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing."

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."

"Sufferings are the opportunities for heroic deeds."

"Concentrate every minute like a Roman on doing what's in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness."

"All is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered."

"If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it."

"Begin each day by telling yourself: Today I will encounter busybodies, ingrates, egomaniacs, liars, the difficult and trouble makers."

"The human being is not made for pleasure. He is made for effort, for exertion, for struggle."

"You have a choice right now: you can either be having the experience of a lifetime, or be having the thought that you're not where you want to be."

"A man can do what he wills, but he cannot will what he wills."

"Stop whatever you're doing for a moment and ask yourself: Am I afraid of death because I won't be able to do this anymore?"

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."

"Forget everything. Pretend that this is the beginning of your life. Right now. Stop being governed by inertia."

"Run down the list of those who felt intense anger at something: the most famous, the most unfortunate, the most hated, the most evil - where are they now?"

"You have existed as a waste corner for enough time. Now become precious."

"When you awake in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

"As soon as you have made a thought, change another thought in your mind; for it will pollute the whole spirit."

"It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth and wisdom."

"The cucumber is bitter. Put it down. There are briars in the road. Go around them. That's all you need to know."

"Life is not about being in control. It is about flow; it is about grace; it is about ease."

"The future is uncertain and it is entirely in your hands."

"Wealth is the test of a man's character."

"You are a little soul carrying around a corpse."

"The royal path to this knowledge of nature is through our reason."

"Nothing has happened to the wise man against his will."