Remember that thou art an actor in a play, of such a kind as the teacher (author) may choose; if short, of a short one; if long, of a long one:
The passage goes on to say that if the author wants you to play a poor man, a lame man or a magistrate, your duty is to act the part well; choosing the part belongs to someone else. It is the Stoic answer to the question of fate.
It is circumstances (difficulties) which show what men are. Therefore when a difficulty falls upon you, remember that God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a rough young man.
Remember that it is not he who reviles you or strikes you, who insults you, but it is your opinion about these things as being insulting.
Men are disturbed, not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things.
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, / The Man’s the gowd for a’ that.