CLXXI

In company avoid frequent and undue talk about your own
actions and dangers. However pleasant it may be to you to enlarge
upon the risks you have run, others may not find such pleasure in
listening to your adventures. Avoid provoking laughter also: it
is a habit from which one easily slides into the ways of the
foolish, and apt to diminish the respect which your neighbors
feel for you. To border on coarse talk is also dangerous. On such
occasions, if a convenient opportunity offer, rebuke the speaker.
If not, at least by relapsing into silence, colouring, and
looking annoyed, show that you are displeased with the subject.

CLXXII

When you have decided that a thing ought to be done, and are
doing it, never shun being seen doing it, even though the
multitude should be likely to judge the matter amiss. For if you
are not acting rightly, shun the act itself; if rightly, however,
why fear misplaced censure?

CLXXIII

It stamps a man of mean capacity to spend much time on the
things of the body, as to be long over bodily exercises, long
over eating, long over drinking, long over other bodily
functions. Rather should these things take the second place,
while all your care is directed to the understanding.

CLXXIV

Everything has two handles, one by which it may be borne,
the other by which it may not. If your brother sin against you
lay not hold of it by the handle of injustice, for by that it may
not be borne: but rather by this, that he is your brother, the
comrade of your youth; and thus you will lay hold on it so that
it may be borne.

CLXXV

Never call yourself a Philosopher nor talk much among the
unlearned about Principles, but do that which follows from them.
Thus at a banquet, do not discuss how people ought to eat; but
eat as you ought. Remember that Socrates thus entirely avoided
ostentation. Men would come to him desiring to be recommended to
philosophers, and he would conduct them thither himself--so well
did he bear being overlooked. Accordingly if any talk concerning
principles should arise among the unlearned, be you for the most
part silent. For you run great risk of spewing up what you have
ill digested. And when a man tells you that you know nothing and