The Obstacle is the Way

"While it's true that someone can impede our actions, they can't impede our intentions and our attitudes, which have the power of being conditional and adaptable. For the mind adapts and converts any obstacle to its action into a means of achieving it. That which is an impediment to action is turned to advance action. The obstacle on the path becomes the way."  -- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.20

So, it seems that Marcus Aurelius was studying Aikido 2000 years before O'Sensei, and didn't even know it.  :-)