A passage from Seneca
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius Letter 14
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In order to make good progress, the wise man's peace should not be disturbed by any external event... But the wise man will never provoke the anger of those in power; nay, he will turn his course, precisely as he would turn from a storm.
Related passages
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Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busy-body, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial.
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At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: 'I have to go to work — as a human being.'
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Take care not to be Caesarified, or dyed with purple; for it does happen. Keep thyself then simple, good, pure, serious, free from affectation.