Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)
“Think not so much of what thou hast not as of what thou hast: but of the things which thou hast, select the best, and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought, if thou hadst them not. At the same time, however, take care that thou dost not, through being so pleased with them, accustom thyself to overvalue them, so as to be disturbed if ever thou shouldst not have them.”
Variant Translation: Let not thy mind run on what thou lackest as much as on what thou hast already.
VII, 27
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VII
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Marcus Aurelius 400
Emperor of Ancient Rome 121–180Related quotes
“If thou hast sought happiness and missed it, but hast found wisdom instead, thou art fortunate.”
Source: Aphorisms and Reflections (1901), p. 85
Source: The Gospel in Ezekiel Illustrated in a Series of Discourses (1856), P. 32 (The Defiler).
“Wait, wait, till thou hast heard this tale of mine,
Then shalt thou think them devilish or divine.”
The Earthly Paradise (1868-70), The Lady of the Land
Context: A queen I was, what Gods I knew I loved,
And nothing evil was there in my thought,
And yet by love my wretched heart was moved
Until to utter ruin I was brought!
Alas! thou sayest our gods were vain and nought,
Wait, wait, till thou hast heard this tale of mine,
Then shalt thou think them devilish or divine.
“Count not that thou hast lived that day, in which thou hast not lived with God.”
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 117.
Canto IV, stanza 39 (tr. Fairfax)
Gerusalemme Liberata (1581)
Attributed to Metrodorus by Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, V, 14, as translated by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, Clement of Alexandria, vol. II, in Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325, vol. XII, 1869, p. 300 https://archive.org/details/antenicenechris05donagoog/page/n314.