In historical events great men—so-called—are but labels serving to give a name to the event, and like labels they have the least possible connection with the event itself. Every action of theirs, that seems to them an act of their own free will, is in an historical sense not free at all, but in bondage to the whole course of previous history, and predestined from all eternity. War and Peace
From Plato: the man who has an elevated mind and takes a view of all time and of all substance, dost thou suppose it possible for him to think that human life is anything great? It is not possible, he said. Such a man then will think that death also is no evil. Book VII
The only thing that isn't worthless: to live this life out truthfully and rightly. And be patient with those who don't. Book VI
“Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions.” The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People
Quotes