Practice thyself even in the things which thou despairest of accomplishing.
Such as a man’s character is, he immediately shows it in his eyes, just as he who is beloved forthwith reads everything in the eyes of lovers.
If the things do not come to thee, the pursuits and avoidances of which disturb thee, still in a manner thou goest to them.
"The earth loves the shower."
No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man ought to be, but be such.
How shall I be released from this? -> How shall I not desire to be released?