In a little while you will have forgotten everything; in a little while everything will have forgotten you.
Whether the universe is a concourse of atoms, or nature is a system, let this first be established: that I am a part of the whole that is governed by nature; next, that I stand in some intimate connection with other kindred parts.
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.
The man who spends his time choosing one resort after another in a hunt for peace and quiet, will in every place he visits find something to prevent him from relaxing.
If the art of war were nothing but the art of avoiding risks, glory would become the prey of mediocre minds.
