Golden Sayings   

God hath made all things in the world, nay, the world
itself, free from hindrance and perfect, and its parts for the
use of the whole. Not other creature is capable of comprehending
His administration thereof; but the reasonable being Man
possesses faculties for the consideration of all these things--
not only that he is himself a part, but what part he is, and how
it is meet that the parts should give place to the whole. Nor is
this all. Being naturally constituted noble, magnanimous, and
free, he sees that the things which surround him are of two
kinds. Some are free from hindrance and in the power of the will.
Other are subject to hindrance, and depend on the will of other
men. If then he place his own good, his own best interest, only
in that which is free from hindrance and in his power, he will be
free, tranquil, happy, unharmed, noble-hearted, and pious; giving
thanks to all things unto God, finding fault with nothing that
comes to pass, laying no charge against anything. Whereas if he
place his good in outward things, depending not on the will, he
must perforce be subject to hindrance and restraint, the slave of
those that have power over the things he desires and fears; he
must perforce be impious, as deeming himself injured at the hands
of God; he must be unjust, as ever prone to claim more than his
due; he must perforce be of a mean and abject spirit.

CLII

Whom then shall I fear? the lords of the Bedchamber, lest
they should shut me out? If they find me desirous of entering in,
let them shut me out, if they will.
"Then why comest thou to the door?"
Beacause I think it meet and right, so long as the Play
lasts, to take part therein.
"In what sense art thou then shut out?"
Because, unless I am admitted, it is not my will to enter:
on the contrary, my will is simply that which comes to pass. For
I esteem what God wills better than what I will. To Him will I
cleave as His minister and attendant; having the same movements,
the same desires, in a word the same Will as He. There is no such
thing as being shut out for me, but only for them that would
force their way in.
CLIII

But what says Socrates?--"One man finds pleasure in
improving his land, another his horses. My pleasure lies in
seeing that I myself grow better day by day."

CLIV

The dress is suited to the craft; the craftsman takes his
name from the craft, not from the dress. For this reason
Euphrates was right in saying, "I long endeavoured to conceal my