“Make sure you’re not made ‘Emperor’, avoid that imperial stain. Keep yourself simple, good, pure, saintly, plain, a friend of justice, and strong for your proper work.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness.”— Anne Frank
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, who is poor.” — Seneca
It’s easy to get caught up chasing power, fame, and money. The people you spend time with and the information you consume will often push you in that direction.
But remember, don’t do it.
Time and time again, history shows that path leads to short-term pleasure and a lot of long-term pain. Before you go down that road, ask yourself: “Will I be able to live with a clear conscience? Will I still be able to truly enjoy time with the people I love?”
If the answer isn’t a solid, 100% “Yes,” then don’t do it.
Don’t look at what others have with envy. Don’t be greedy. Even if everyone around you is playing that game, have the courage to walk the other way. As Henry David Thoreau said about where true wealth comes from:
“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”
Own your actions. Live a life that holds true to who you are deep down.
The world will try to change you. But as Ralph Waldo Emerson said:
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
Live a principled life.