A passage from Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.2
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Whatever this is that I am, it is a little flesh and breath, and the ruling part. Throw away thy books; no longer distract thyself: it is not allowed.
Related passages
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Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains... But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself.
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Of human life the time is a point, the substance flowing, the perception dull... The only thing that escorts a man on his way is philosophy.
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Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.