Golden Sayings   

fellow-traveller himself turns upon me and robs me? What am I to
do? I will become a friend of Caesar's! in his train none will do
me wrong! In the first place--O the indignities I must endure to
win distinction! O the multitude of hands there will be to rob
me! And if I succeed, Caesar too is but a mortal. While should it
come to pass that I offend him, whither shall I flee from his
presence? To the wilderness? And may not fever await me there?
What then is to be done? Cannot a fellow-traveller be found that
is honest and loyal, stong and secure against surprise? Thus doth
the wise man reason, considering that if he would pass through in
safety, he must attach himself unto God.

CXXXVIII

"How understandest thou attach himself to God?"
That what God wills, he should will also; that what God
wills not, neither should he will.
"How then may this come to pass?"
By considering the movements of God, and His administration.

CXXXIX

And dost thou that hast received all from another's hands,
repine and blame the Giver, if He takes anything from thee? Why,
who art thou, and to what end comest thou here? was it not He
that made the Light manifest unto thee, that gave thee fellow-workers,
and senses, and the power to reason? And how brought He
thee into the world? Was it not as one born to die; as one bound
to live out his earthly life in some small tabernacle of flesh;
to behold His administration, and for a little while share with
Him in the mighty march of this great Festival Procession? Now
therefore that thou hast beheld, while it was permitted thee, the
Solemn Feast and Assembly, wilt thou not cheerfully depart, whem
He summons thee forth, with adoration and thanksgiving for what
thou hast seen and heard?--"Nay, but I would fain have stayed
longer at the Festival."--Ah, so would the mystics fain have the
rites prolonged; so perchance would the crowd at the Great Games
fain behold more wrestlers still. But the Solemn Assembly is
over! Come forth, depart with thanksgiving and modesty--give
place to others that must come into being even as thyself.

CXL

Why art thou thus insatiable? why thus unreasonable? why
encumber the world?--"Aye, but I fain would have my wife and
children with me too."--What, are they then thine, and not His
that gave them--His that made thee? Give up then that which is
not thine own: yield it to One who is better than thou. "Nay, but
why did He bring one into the world on these conditions?"--If it
suits thee not, depart! He hath no need of a spectator who finds