Constantly and, if it be possible, on the occasion of every impression on the soul, apply to it the principles of physics, ethics, and dialectics.
Why are we still lazy, indifferent and dull? Why do we look for excuses to avoid training and exercising our powers of reason?
To have contemplated human life for forty years is the same as to have contemplated it for ten thousand years. For what more will you see?
A brief existence is common to all things, and yet you avoid and pursue all things as if they would be eternal.
Every part of me then will be reduced by change into some part of the universe, and that again will change into another part of the universe, and so on forever.
In a little while you will have forgotten everything; in a little while everything will have forgotten you.
Is any man afraid of change? What can take place without change? What then is more pleasing or more suitable to the universal nature? And can you take a hot bath unless the wood for the fire undergoes a change? And can you be nourished unless the food undergoes a change? And can anything else that is useful be accomplished without change? Do you not see then that for yourself also to change is just the same, and equally necessary for the universal nature?
It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.
If you lost the capacity to read, or play music, you would think it was a disaster, but you think nothing of losing the capacity to be honest, decent and civilized.
Whenever externals are more important to you than your own integrity, then be prepared to serve them the remainder of your life.
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