MATHETΩN

Your tongue longs to jump into argument, but restrain it; it is a tyrant, and you must fight it daily seventy-times-seven. Fix your mind to your soul as to the wood of a cross, strike it with alternating hammer blows like an anvil. It has to be mocked, abused, ridiculed, and wronged, though without in any way being crushed or broken; indeed it must keep calm and unstirred.

A man should know that a devil’s sickness is on him if he is seized by the urge in conversation to assert his opinion, however correct it may be.

Only through shame can you be freed from shame.

Habit ( a ) forms things and ( b ) follows them. And it is particularly true that virtue depends on habit.

Drink deeply of scorn from every man, as though it were living water handed you to cleanse you.

A small fire can soften a great lump of wax; and a small indignity meekly accepted will often ease, sweeten, and wipe away all the heart’s harshness.

Do not become silent in an unreasonable way that causes disturbance and hard feeling in others.