1 - Do you know the standards by which someone can be judged? What a good or a bad person is and how they got that way? If so, how come you are not a good person yourself? [Epictetus, D 2.13] 

2 - When you consider the precision, the smoothness with which our perception and reasoning happen, can there be anything better than the way we use our mind? [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.9] 

3 - No condition can be so miserable that a balanced mind cannot find some comfort in it. [Seneca, T 10] 

4 - Good people do not grieve, complain, or groan. They don’t turn pale, tremble, and say, “How will he receive me? Will he listen to me?” [Epictetus, D 2.13] 

5 - Look at your own associates. Even the best of them are difficult to put up with. And, for that matter, we can’t even put up with ourselves. [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.9] 

6 - Apply reason to your problems. What is hard can be softened, what is narrow can be widened, and what is heavy can be borne lightly. [Seneca, T 10] 

7 - What if I could show you that you are missing the key to happiness? That you have spent all these days on things that are not right for you? [Epictetus, D 2.14] 

8 - Would you accept goods and value them if it is of the type that fills your house and leaves no room even to ease yourself? [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.12] 

9 - Don’t allow your desires to wander too far. Give them access to what is near. They will not tolerate being completely restricted. [Seneca, T 10] 

10 - “We must stick with a decision.” “That applies only to a sound decision, not to any decision. If you imagine that this is night (when it is day), would you believe then that it must be true, and you should not change your mind?” [Epictetus, D 2.15] 

11 - The quality of your mind is determined by the quality of its thoughts. [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.16] 

12 - Abandon things that cannot be done or are difficult to do. Pursue things that are near at hand that you can hope to reach. [Seneca, T 10] 

13 - Start with a solid foundation at the beginning. Examine your decisions to see if they are correct. If they are, then and only then, do you have the basis for a firm resolve. [Epictetus, D 2.15] 

14 - It is insane to go after what is impossible, yet the thoughtless person cannot stop doing it. [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.17] 

15 - Do not envy those who are in high places. The heights that look lofty to us are steep and rugged. [Seneca, T 10] 

16 - Instead of being afraid of death and deportation, if we feared fear itself we would practice avoiding things that we believe are bad. [Epictetus, D 2.16] 

17 - Nothing can happen to you that you cannot endure. [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.18] 

18 - If life has put you in a critical situation, you will be safer if you show as little pride in your position and bring down your fortunes to the ordinary level. [Seneca, T 10] 

19 - Protect what is yours; don’t claim what is someone else’s. Use what is given to you. Do not desire what not is given to you. When something is taken away from you, give it up readily. Be thankful for the time you had with it. [Epictetus, D 2.16] 

20 - Outward things don’t touch the soul. Not even just a bit. [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.19] 

21 - Organize many defenses against misfortunes to come by providing justice, compassion, and kindness with an open and generous hand. [Seneca, T 10] 

22 - As the saying goes, “Man, do something desperate to achieve freedom and tranquility.” [Epictetus, D 2.16] 

23 - People touch me deeply. My job is to do them good, and bear with them. [Marcus Aurelius, M5.20] 

24 - Nothing sets us free from this wavering of hope and fear better than fixing some limit to our successes and not allowing Fortune to choose when to stop our caree. [Seneca, T 10] 

25 - Instead of getting rid of robbers, get rid of sorrow, fear, lust, envy, and schadenfreude (joy at others’ misfortunes), greed, petulance, and over-indulgence. [Epictetus, D 2.16] 

26- True, others may prevent us from doing certain things, but they cannot affect our will and our disposition. [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.20] 

27- What hardship can there be in going back to the place one came from? One who does not know how to die cannot live well. [Seneca, T 11] 

28- It is crisis time. Make a last desperate effort to gain freedom and tranquility. [Epictetus, D 2.16] 

29- The mind can overcome and convert obstacles to its own main purpose. The obstacle to its work becomes its support. The barriers in the path become aids to its progress. [Marcus Aurelius, M 5.20] 

30 - Often, it is the fear of death that causes death. [Seneca, T 11] 

 

D=Discourses by Epictetus; M=Meditations by Marcus Aurelius; T=On Tranquility by Seneca 

---