"When you act, let it be neither unwillingly, nor selfishly, not unthinkingly, not half-heartedly; do not attempt to embellish your thoughts by dressing them up in fine language; avoid excessive talk and superfluous action. Furthermore, let the deity within you be the overseer of one who is manly and mature, a statesman, a Roman and a ruler, who has taken his post as one who is awaiting the signal of his recall from life and is ready to obey without need of an oath or another man as his witness. And show a cheerful face to the world, and have no need of help from outside or the peace that others confer. In brief, you must stand upright, not be held upright"
[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, III.5]
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Extract from the 'Meditations', by the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius [ruled 161-180 AD]. Self written notes written in the Stoic philosophy as a means of providing self-guidance and grounding to his own rule and conduct.
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