Golden Sayings   

not to be thought to know anything. If any should make account of
thee, distrust thyself.

CLIX

Remember that in life thou shouldst order thy conduct as at
a banquet. Has any dish that is being served reached thee?
Stretch forth thy hand and help thyself modestly. Doth it pass
thee by? Seek not to detain it. Has it not yet come? Send not
forth thy desire to meet it, but wait until it reaches thee. Deal
thus with children, thus with wife; thus with office, thus with
wealth--and one day thou wilt be meet to share the Banquets of
the Gods. But if thou dost not so much as touch that which is
placed before thee, but despisest it, then shalt thou not only
share the Banquets of the Gods, but their Empire also.

CLX

Remember that thou art an actor in a play, and of such sort
as the Author chooses, whether long or short. If it be his good
pleasure to assign thee the part of a beggar, a ruler, or a
simple citizen, thine it is to play it fitly. For thy business is
to act the part assigned thee, well: to choose it, is another's.

CLXI

Keep death and exile daily before thine eyes, with all else
that men deem terrible, but more especially Death. Then wilt thou
never think a mean though, nor covet anything beyond measure.

CLXII

As a mark is not set up in order to be missed, so neither is
such a thing as natural evil produced in the World.

CLXIII

Piety toward the Gods, to be sure, consists chiefly in
thinking rightly concerning them--that they are, and that they
govern the Universe with goodness and justice; and that thou
thyself art appointed to obey them, and to submit under all
circumstances that arise; acquiescing cheerfully in whatever may
happen, sure it is brought to pass and accomplished by the most
Perfect Understanding. Thus thou wilt never find fault with the
Gods, nor charge them with neglecting thee.

CLXIV

Lose no time in setting before you a certain stamp of
character and behaviour both when by yourself and in company with