If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it.

Marcus Aurelius, sometimes called the “philosopher king,” ruled the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 CE. During that time, he wrote down his thoughts and reflections on the challenges of life and leadership. The collection would later be bound and published under the simple title of “Meditations.” The book has been translated and republished countless times, and the wisdom of Aurelius’ words, passed down through the centuries, continues to resonate.