the most religious of emperors came of the blood of the most pious of early kings


He was taught to dress plainly and to live simply, to avoid all softness and luxury


from all these things Marcus held severely aloof


to keep myself not only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and to live with a simplicity which is far from customary among the rich


not to busy myself about vain things; not to credit the great professions of such as pretend to work wonders, or of sorcerers about their charms, and their expelling of Demons and the like


first apprehensions that my nature needed reform and cure; and that I did not fall into the ambition of the common Sophists