20 Ancient Quotes To Inspire You When You Need A Kick In The Ass

Many people today lead hard lives, full of stress, worry, and unfulfilled dreams. However when we complain, we sometimes forget to put things in perspective. People in the ancient days had to lead lives that were much harsher than the lives of people today.

Disease, war, death, fear were constant threats and ever-present at every corner. Just getting enough food to eat was a constant struggle for almost everyone. This did not stop people from leading happy lives, from striving to improve themselves and from trying to make the best of circumstances.

Ancient wisdom can inspire you to take matters into your own hands, to not sit on your ass, but instead to make something of your life. This wisdom inspired great men throughout history. Leaders like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson used ancient classics to guide them to become the men that they became. You can follow the same path.

1)

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”  — Aristotle

2)

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” — Aristotle

 

3)

“The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.” — Aristotle

 

4)

“It is better to destroy one’s own errors than those of others.” — Democritus

 

5)

“You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” — Epicurus

 

6)

“A man’s character is his fate.” — Heraclitus

7)

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” — Confucius

8)

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” — Marcus Aurelius

9)

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius

10)

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” — Marcus Aurelius

11)

“Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.” — Lao Tzu

12)

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius

13)

“How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.” — Marcus Aurelius

14)

“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.” — Socrates

15)

“Away with the world’s opinion of you—it’s always unsettled and divided.” — Seneca

16)

“To the person who does not know where he wants to go there is no favorable wind.” — Seneca

17)

“Live without sorrow” — Delphic maxim

18)

“Do not tire of learning” — Delphic maxim

19)

“Any man can make mistakes, but only a fool persists in his errors.” — Cicero

20)

“Gratitude is not only the highest virtue, but the parent of all the others.” — Cicero