Discourses, Fragments, Handbook (Oxford World's Classics)

These are the thoughts that those who embark on philosophy ought to reflect upon; it is these that they should write about day after day, and it is in these that they should train themselves.

we for our part find all manner of excuses to explain away our mean-spirited behaviour,

If someone reports to you that a certain person is speaking ill of you, don’t defend yourself against what has been said, but reply instead, ‘Ah yes, he was plainly unaware of all my other faults, or else those wouldn’t have been the only ones that he mentioned.’

What is it that makes use of everything else? Choice. What is it that takes charge of everything else? Choice. What is it that destroys the whole person, sometimes through hunger, sometimes through a noose, sometimes by hurling him over a cliff? Choice. [18] Can it be, then, that there is anything more powerful among human beings than this?

you should be confident with regard to things that lie outside the sphere of choice, and exercise caution with regard to those that lie within it.

for your part, won’t you come forward and put into practice what you’ve learned? [56] For it is not fine arguments that are lacking

What law? That of God; to preserve what is his own, and not lay claim to what is not his own, but to make use of what is granted to him, and not long for what is not granted; if anything is taken away from him, to surrender it willingly, and be grateful for the time in which he has enjoyed the use of

dare to raise up your eyes towards God and say to him, ‘Use me just as you will from this time onward; I’m of one mind with you; I’m yours. I refuse nothing that seems good to you. Lead me where you will, wrap me in whatever clothes you wish. Is it your wish that I should hold office, or remain a private citizen, that I should stay here, or go into

—‘We ought to hold to our decisions.’—What are you up to, man? Not to every decision, but to those that are justified.