"Nothing exists except atoms and free space, everything else is opinion." —Democritus

"The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself." —Hierocles

"Since every man dies, it is better to die with distinction than to live long." —Musonius Rufus

"I do not know whether I shall make progress; but I should prefer to lack success rather than to lack faith." —Seneca

"Love is born into every human being; it calls back the halves of our original nature together; it tries to make one out of two and heal the wound of human nature." —Plato, The Symposium

"You are well aware that it is not numbers or strength that bring the victories in war. No, it is when one side goes against the enemy with the gods’ gift of a stronger morale that their adversaries, as a rule, cannot withstand them. I have noticed this point too, my friends, that in soldiering the people whose one aim is to keep alive usually find a wretched and dishonorable death, while the people who, realizing that death is the common lot of all men, make it their endeavour to die with honour, somehow seem more often to reach old age and to have a happier life when they are alive. These are facts which you too should realize (our situation demands it) and should show that you yourselves are brave men and should call on the rest to do likewise." —Xenophon, The Persian Expedition

"Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly." —Marcus Aurelius

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." —Plato

"At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: I have to go to work—as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for—the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?" —Marcus Aurelius