“So, Jeeves!”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you mean, Yes, sir?”
“I was endeavouring to convey my appreciation of the fact that your position is in many respects somewhat difficult, sir. But I wonder if I might call your attention to an observation of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius? He said: ‘Does anything befall you? It is good. It is part of the destiny of the universe ordained for you from the beginning. All that befalls you is part of the great web.’”
I breathed a bit stertorously. “He said that, did he?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, you can tell him from me he’s an ass.”
P.G. Wodehouse, The Mating Season