My parents were Stoics.  I’m not kidding.  I didn’t realize it until I became a student of philosophy.  I am not a fan of the European Philosophers – with the heavy religious overtones; I’m an “Ancients” girl.  I have lots of heroes… but my #1 Hero is Socrates, and second (IMHO)  enter Seneca … and his words of wisdom…

Let no man presume to give advice to others that has not first given good counsel to himself.
Seneca.

The origin of all mankind was the same: it is only a clear and a good conscience that makes a man noble, for that is derived from heaven itself. It was the saying of a great man that, if we could trace our descents, we should find all slaves to come from princes, and all princes from slaves; and fortune has turned all things topsy-turvy in a long series of revolutions: beside, for a man to spend his life in pursuit of a trifle that serves only when he dies to furnish out an epitaph, is below a wise man’s business.
Seneca.

If anger is not restrained, it is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.
Seneca.

We are at best but stewards of what we falsely call our own; yet avarice is so insatiable that it is not in the power of liberality to content it.
Seneca.

It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful; but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige many that are not so.
Seneca.

Nothing so soon reconciles us to the thought of our own death, as the prospect of one friend after another dropping around us.
Seneca.

The body being only the covering of the soul, at its dissolution we shall discover the secrets of nature—the darkness shall be dispelled, and our souls irradiated with light and glory; a glory without a shadow, a glory that shall surround us; and from whence we shall look down, and see day and night beneath us: and as now we cannot lift up our eyes towards the sun without dazzling, what shall we do when we behold the divine light in its illustrious original?
Seneca.

What is death but a ceasing to be what we were before? we are kindled and put out, we die, daily: nature that begot us expels us, and a better and a safer place is provided for us.
Seneca.

What must be shall be; and that which is a necessity to him that struggles is little more than choice to him that is willing.
Seneca.

As fate is inexorable, and not to be moved either with tears or reproaches an excess of sorrow is as foolish as profuse laughter; while, on the other hand, not to mourn at all is insensibility.
Seneca.

We are sure to get the better of Fortune if we do but grapple with her.
Seneca.

The greatest loss of time is delay and expectation, which depends upon the future. We let go the present, which we have in our power, and look forward to that which depends upon chance,—and so quit a certainty for an uncertainty.
Seneca.

He that does good to another man does also good to himself; not only in the consequence, but in the very act of doing it; for the conscience of well-doing is an ample reward.
Seneca.
Let no man presume to give advice to others that has not first given good counsel to himself.
Seneca.

1

The origin of all mankind was the same: it is only a clear and a good conscience that makes a man noble, for that is derived from heaven itself. It was the saying of a great man that, if we could trace our descents, we should find all slaves to come from princes, and all princes from slaves; and fortune has turned all things topsy-turvy in a long series of revolutions: beside, for a man to spend his life in pursuit of a trifle that serves only when he dies to furnish out an epitaph, is below a wise man’s business.
Seneca.

2

If anger is not restrained, it is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.
Seneca.

3

We are at best but stewards of what we falsely call our own; yet avarice is so insatiable that it is not in the power of liberality to content it.
Seneca.

4

It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful; but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige many that are not so.
Seneca.

5

Nothing so soon reconciles us to the thought of our own death, as the prospect of one friend after another dropping around us.
Seneca.

6

The body being only the covering of the soul, at its dissolution we shall discover the secrets of nature—the darkness shall be dispelled, and our souls irradiated with light and glory; a glory without a shadow, a glory that shall surround us; and from whence we shall look down, and see day and night beneath us: and as now we cannot lift up our eyes towards the sun without dazzling, what shall we do when we behold the divine light in its illustrious original?
Seneca.

7

What is death but a ceasing to be what we were before? we are kindled and put out, we die, daily: nature that begot us expels us, and a better and a safer place is provided for us.
Seneca.

8

What must be shall be; and that which is a necessity to him that struggles is little more than choice to him that is willing.
Seneca.

9

As fate is inexorable, and not to be moved either with tears or reproaches an excess of sorrow is as foolish as profuse laughter; while, on the other hand, not to mourn at all is insensibility.
Seneca.

10

We are sure to get the better of Fortune if we do but grapple with her.
Seneca.

11

The greatest loss of time is delay and expectation, which depends upon the future. We let go the present, which we have in our power, and look forward to that which depends upon chance,—and so quit a certainty for an uncertainty.
Seneca.

12

He that does good to another man does also good to himself; not only in the consequence, but in the very act of doing it; for the conscience of well-doing is an ample reward.
Seneca.