Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not ‘This is misfortune,’ but ‘To bear this worthily is good fortune.’

Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) was a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher known for his posthumously titled work, Meditations. Assumed to have been written for his own self-improvement, the book examines life experiences through the lens of Stoic principles, which emphasize living virtuously, rationally, simply, and with full responsibility for one’s actions and obligations.