It Is Difficulties That Show

Does A Man Reproach Thee For Being Proud Or Ill-natured, Envious Or Conceited, Ignorant Or Detracting? Consider With Thyself Whether His Reproaches Are True. If They Are Not, Consider That Thou Art Not The Person Whom He Reproaches, But That He Reviles An Imaginary Being, And Perhaps Loves What Thou Really Art, Though He Hates What Thou Appearest To Be.

Difficulty Shows What Men Are. Therefore When A Difficulty Falls Upon You, Remember That God, Like A Trainer Of Wrestlers, Has Matched You With A Rough Young Man. Why? So That You May Become An Olympic Conqueror; But It Is Not Accomplished Without Sweat.

To Get Or Not To Get What We Desire Can Be Equally Disappointing.

All Human Beings Seek The Happy Life, But Many Confuse The Means - For Example, Wealth And Status - With That Life Itself. This Misguided Focus On The Means To A Good Life Makes People Get Further From The Happy Life. The Really Worthwhile Things Are The Virtuous Activities That Make Up The Happy Life, Not The External Means That May Seem To Produce It.

Things True And Evident Must Of Necessity Be Recognized By Those Who Would Contradict Them.