Cxxviii, Cxxix.

When a young man dies, some one blames the Gods that, at the time when he himself ought to be at rest, he is still encumbered with the troubles of life. Yet when death approaches, he wishes to live, and sends for the physician, and entreats him to omit no care or pains. It is marvellous that men should not be willing either to live or die.

To a longer and worse life, a shorter and better is by all means to be preferred by every one.

When we are children, our parents deliver us to the care of a tutor; who is continually to watch over us that we get no hurt. When we are become men, God delivers us to the guardianship of an implanted conscience. We ought by no means, then, to despise this guardian; for it will both displease God, and we shall be enemies to our own conscience.

Riches ought to be used as the means to some end, and not lavished on every occasion.

All men should wish rather for virtue than for wealth, which is dangerous to the foolish, since vice is increased by riches. And in proportion as any one is foolish, he becomes the more profuse, through having the means of gratifying his passion for pleasure.

What ought not to be done, do not even think of doing.

Deliberate much before you speak or act; for what is once said or done you cannot recall.

Every place is safe to him who dwells with justice.

Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when they are no longer of any use. But flatterers destroy the souls of the living by blinding their eyes.

The anger of a monkey and the threats of a flatterer deserve equal regard.

Kindly receive those who are willing to give good advice; but not those who upon every occasion are eager to flatter. For the former truly see what is advantageous; but the latter consider only the opinions of their superiors; and imitate the shadows of bodies, nodding assent to what they say.

An adviser ought, in the first place, to have a regard to the delicacy and sense of shame of the person admonished. For they who are beyond blushing are incorrigible.

It is better to advise than reproach; for the one is mild and friendly, the other stern and severe; the one corrects the erring, the other only convicts them.

Impart to strangers and persons in need according to your ability. For he who gives nothing to the needy shall receive nothing in his own need.

A person once brought clothes to a pirate, who had been cast ashore, and almost killed by the severity of the weather; then carried him to his house, and furnished him with all necessaries. Being reproached by some one for doing good to the evil; “I have paid this regard,” answered he, “not to the man, but to humanity.”

We ought not to choose every pleasure; but that whose end is good.

It belongs to a wise man to resist pleasure; and to a fool to be enslaved by it.

In all vice, pleasure, being presented like a bait, draws sensual minds to the hook of perdition.

Choose rather to punish your appetites than to be punished by them.

No one is free who commands not himself.

The vine bears three clusters; the first of pleasure, the second of intoxication, the third of outrage.

Do not talk much over wine to show your learning; for your discourse will be unpleasing.

He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses; and though he be not drunk, he has exceeded moderation.

Let discourse of God be renewed every day more surely than our food.

Think of God oftener than you breathe.

If you always remember that God stands by as a witness of whatever you do, either in soul or body, you will never err, either in your prayers or actions, and you will have God abiding with you.

As it is pleasant to view the sea from the shore, so it is pleasant to one who has escaped, to remember his past labors.

Law aims to benefit human life; but it cannot, when men themselves choose to suffer, for it manifests its proper virtue on condition of obedience.

As physicians are the preservers of the sick, so are the laws, of the injured.

The justest laws are the truest.

It is decent to yield to a law, to a ruler, and to a wiser man.

Things done contrary to law are to be regarded as undone.

In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; in adversity, nothing is so difficult.

Time delivers fools from grief; and reason, wise men.

He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has.

Epictetus being asked how a person might grieve his enemy, answered, “By doing as well as possible himself.”

Let no wise man estrange himself from the government of the state; for it is both wicked to withdraw from being useful to the needy, and cowardly to give way to the worthless. For it is foolish to choose rather to be governed ill than to govern well.

Nothing is more becoming a ruler, than to despise no one, nor be insolent, but to preside over all impartially.

Any person may live happy in poverty, but few in wealth and power. So great is the advantage of poverty, that no wise man would exchange it for disreputable wealth; unless indeed Themistocles, the son of Neocles, the most wealthy of the Athenians, but poor in virtue, was better than Aristides and Socrates. But both himself and his wealth are perished, and without a name. For a bad man loses all in death; but virtue is eternal.

[Remember] that such is, and was, and will be, the nature of the world, nor is it possible that things should be otherwise than they now are; and that not only men and other creatures upon earth partake of this change and transformation, but diviner things also. For indeed even the four elements are transformed and metamorphosed; and earth becomes water, and water air, and this again is transformed into other things. And the same manner of transformation happens from things above to those below. Whoever endeavors to turn his mind towards these points, and persuade himself to receive with willingness what cannot be avoided, will pass his life in moderation and harmony.