Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.

It is easy to be calm about a trouble that is over and easy to be philosophical about one that has not arrived. The present kind is different, because it is happening to your body and attention right now and will not hold still to be reasoned with. Anyone who is serene about a toothache does not have one.

When you are in the middle of something hard, lower what you ask of yourself. Aim to get through the hour rather than to have the right attitude, and save the thinking for when the pressure lets up enough for thinking to work.