“Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.”
“Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of men's desires, but by the removal of desire.”
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
“Keep the prospect of death, exile and all such apparent tragedies before you every day – especially death – and you will never have an abject thought, or desire anything to excess.”
“Do your best to rein in your desire. For if you desire something that isn’t within your own control, disappointment will surely follow; meanwhile, you will be neglecting the very things that are within your control that are worthy of desire.”
“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do not wish to have, or avoid, things that other people control, because then you must serve as their slave.”
“It is much better to die of hunger unhindered by grief and fear than to live affluently beset with worry, dread, suspicion and unchecked desire.”
“Destroy desire completely for the present. For if you desire anything which is not in our power, you must be unfortunate.”
“Prefer enduring satisfaction to immediate gratification.”
“Protect what belongs to you at all costs; don't desire what belongs to another.”