Let fortune do her worst, whatever she makes us lose, so long as she never makes us lose our honesty and our independence.

Most of what you have can be taken by circumstances that have nothing to do with you. Money, position, health and plans are all held loosely whether you like it or not. What remains within your control is narrower and more durable: whether you tell the truth and whether you stay free to make your own choices. Those two can be given away, but they cannot be removed without your cooperation.

When a hard stretch comes, watch for the moment you are offered relief in exchange for one of them. That is the trade worth refusing, even when refusing costs you.