Golden Sayings   

and ingenuous youths. As it is, what does pass? The teacher is a
lifeless body, and you are lifeless bodies yourselves. When you
have had enough to eat today, you sit down and weep about
tomorrow's food. Slave! if you have it, well and good; if not,
you will depart: the door is open--why lament? What further room
is there for tears? What further occasion for flattery? Why
should one envy another? Why should you stand in awe of them that
have much or are placed in power, especially if they be also
strong and passionate? Why, what should they do to us? What they
can do, we will not regard: what does concern us, that they
cannot do. Who then shall rule one that is thus minded?

XX

Seeing this then, and noting well the faculties which you
have, you should say,--"Send now, O God, any trial that Thou
wilt; lo, I have means and powers given me by Thee to acquit
myself with honour through whatever comes to pass!"-- No; but
there you sit, trembling for fear certain things should come to
pass, and moaning and groaning and lamenting over what does come
to pass. And then you upbraid the Gods. Such meanness of spirit
can have but one result--impiety.
Yet God has not only given us these faculties by means of
which we may bear everything that comes to pass without being
curshed or depressed thereby; but like a good King and Father, He
has given us this without let or hindrance, placed wholly at our
own disposition, without reserving to Himself any power of
impediment or restraint. Though possessing all these things free
and all you own, you do not use them! you do not perceive what it
is you have received nor whence it comes, but sit moaning and
groaning; some of you blind to the Giver, making no
acknowledgment to your Benefactor; others basely giving
themselves to complaints and accusations against God.
Yet what faculties and powers you possess for attaining
courage and greatness of heart, I can easily show you; what you
have for upbraiding and accusation, it is for you to show me!
XXI

How did Socrates bear himself in this regard? How else than
as became one who was fully assured that he was the kinsman of
Gods?

XXII

If God had made that part of His own nature which He severed
from Himself and gave to us, liable to be hindered or constrained
either by Himself or any other, He would not have been God, nor
would He have been taking care of us as He ought . . . . If you
choose, you are free; if you choose, you need blame no man--
accuse no man. All things will be at once according to your mind