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I maintain the oldest writings are the absolute best. A fantastic collection of 52 maxims (#29 seems to be missing), as timeless as they are wise.

Some quotes:
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#1. Some things are in our control and others are not. Work, therefore, to be able to say to every harsh appearance, “You are but an appearance, and not absolutely the thing you appear to be.��

#5. Do not be proud of any excellence that is not yours. If a horse thinks “I am handsome��, that is acceptable. But if you the owner boasts “I have a handsome horse��, know that you are elated only on the merit of the horse. Take pride, then, only in some good of your own.

#8. Do not demand that things happen as you wish. Wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will be well.

#9. Sickness is an impediment to the body, but not to the will�� Say this with regard to everything.

#11. Never say of anything “I lost it��. Say instead “I restored it.�� Has your child died? It is restored. Someone else permits you to have it, so hold it as if it is not yours, like travelers at an inn.

#12. Say to yourself, “This is the price paid for peace and tranquility, and nothing is free.��

#15. Always behave like you are at a banquet. Take a moderate share. Has something not come yet? Do not yearn for it; wait for it to come to you.

#16. You are an actor in a drama. If you should enact a poor man, see that you act it well�� or a cripple, or a ruler, or a private citizen.

#18. Say “Whatever happens, it is up to me to derive advantage from it.��

#26. "When the neighbor’s boy has broken a cup, you at once say “Such things happen.�� When your own cup breaks, you should react likewise. Apply this to bigger things. Has another’s wife or child died? All say “That’s life.�� But when our own child dies, why say “How wretched am I!�� ?

#27. A target is not set up for the goal of missing an aim.

#30. Another cannot hurt you, unless you so please.

#32. First clearly understand that every event is indifferent, and nothing to you, for it is always in your power to make right use of it, and this no one can hinder.

#33. Begin by prescribing to yourself some character or demeanor that you may preserve both alone and in company. Be mostly silent, speaking only what is needful, in a few words. Avoid public and vulgar entertainment. Be assured that a throughly pure person can be contaminated by conversing with a corrupt person. It is unnecessary to make public appearances, but if you must, do not appear solicitous for anything other than yourself. Wish only that things be as they are, and that the best man wins. In society, avoid frequently mentioning your actions.

#38. While walking we are careful not to step on a nail or sprain our foot, so likewise take care not to hurt the ruling faculty of the mind. If we were to guard against this in each act, we’d enter events more safely.

#41. Is is a mark of the inferior intellect to spend too much time on the body, being immoderate in exercise, eating, drinking, and other animalistic functions. Such things should be done incidentally, and our main strength applied to reason.

#44. These statements have no interrelation: “I am richer than you, thus your superior.�� “I am more eloquent than you, thus your superior.�� The true, logical connections are : “I am richer than you, thus my possessions must exceed yours.�� “I am more eloquent than you, thus my style must exceed yours.�� But you yourself consist of neither property nor style.

#55. Does anyone drink too much? Do not say that he does ill, but that he drinks a great deal. For unless you perfectly understand his motives, how can you know if he acts ill? Thus you will not risk yielding to any appearances that you do not fully comprehend.

#56. Do not make much talk among the ignorant about your principles, but show them in action. For sheep do not vomit grass to show the shepherd how much they’ve eaten, but inwardly digest food and outwardly produce wool and milk.

#47. Consider how more frugal the poor are than we, how much more patient of hardship.

#50. Do not regard what anyone says of you; it is no concern of yours. What other master do you await as an excuse for delaying self-reformation? You will be negligent and slothful, always adding procrastination to procrastination, purpose to purpose, empty day after empty day, and thus you will accomplish nothing, living and dying and of vulgar mind. This instant, then, think yourself an adult. Make whatever appears to be the best an inviolable law.


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