Epictetus

"Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public."

"Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us no matter what we are doing? ... What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you? If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken get to work on that."

"If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, 'He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone."

"Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant."

"No man is free who is not master of himself."

"To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete."

"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."

"If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported."

"If you would be a reader read if a writer write."

"All philosophy in two words - sustain and abstain."