Mitch Francese

“The true goal of life for Stoics isn’t to acquire as many external advantages as possible but to use whatever befalls us wisely, whether it be sickness or health, wealth or poverty, friends or enemies. The Stoic Sage, or wise man, needs nothing but uses everything well; the fool believes himself to “need” countless things, but he uses them all badly.”
― Donald J. Robertson, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius

“What’s the use of an admirable form of government if political parties and moneyed interests control it? What’s the use of our judicial system, if judges only quote precedents and ignore first principles? What’s the use of a Supreme Court if it’s swayed by the political winds of the hour?”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Everyday Emerson: The Wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson Paraphrased

“I question the value of our civilization when I see that our public representatives have lost hold of the simplest, strongest truths. Nothing demonstrates the emptiness of a person’s mind more than putting party loyalty above principle.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Everyday Emerson: The Wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson Paraphrased

“With each person you meet, remind yourself that you share a common humanity. You are members of the same family. They may not know this, but you do—so show them by the way you treat them.”
― Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations