One of the best ways to get a quick grasp on Stoicism and the principles it follows is through thousands of years of age-old quotations influenced by its teachings.

Across the centuries, many important people in history have made note of what has led them to success or failure.

Quotes attributed to famous celebrities can often be found dating back into antiquity. These provide guidance on almost every aspect of common human existence such as health, personal relationships, living harmoniously with others and with one’s self, family life, love and death.

Here are 5 of my favourite thoughts from some of the most famous philosophers of the ancient world.

Give yourself a gift, the present moment.

The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.

Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future too.

Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.

We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.

Life is long, if you know how to use it.

While we are postponing, life speeds by.

It does not matter how many books you have, but how good are the books which you have.

For many men, the acquisition of wealth does not end their troubles, it only changes them.

I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.

A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope.

It is difficulties that show what men are.

Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.

Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle.

All the good are friends of one another.

Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue

No evil is honorable; but death is honorable; therefore death is not evil.

We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.

Happiness is a good flow of life.