The only thing that isn’t worthless: to live this life out
truthfully and rightly. And be patient with those who don’t.
- When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the
people around you have: this one’s energy, that one’s
modesty, another’s generosity, and so on. Nothing is as
encouraging as when virtues are visibly embodied in the
people around us, when we’re practically showered with
them.
It’s good to keep this in mind.- It doesn’t bother you that you weigh only x or y pounds
and not three hundred. Why should it bother you that you have
only x or y years to live and not more? You accept the limits
placed on your body. Accept those placed on your time. - Do your best to convince them. But act on your own, if
justice requires it. If met with force, then fall back on
acceptance and peaceability. Use the setback to practice
other virtues.
Remember that our efforts are subject to circumstances;
you weren’t aiming to do the impossible.
—Aiming to do what, then?To try. And you succeeded. What you set out to do is