Though the whole world should praise him, he would not be stimulated to greater endeavour, and though the whole world should condemn him, he would not be depressed. So fixed was he in the difference between the internal judgement of himself and the external judgement of others.
The effect of life in society is to complicate and confuse our existence, making us forget who we really are by causing us to become preoccupied with what we are not.
The Perfect Man uses his mind like a mirror — going after nothing, welcoming nothing, responding but not storing.
Marcus Aurelius·180 ADIt never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinions than our own.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau·1762Nature never deceives us; it is we who deceive ourselves.
Epictetus·125 ADIf 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.
