WhereforeIamrightinbiddingeveryonenexttotheGods，whoareourmasters，andthosewhoinorderfollowthem[i。e。，thedemons]，tohonourhisownsoul，whicheveryoneseemstohonour，butnoonehonoursasheought；forhonourisadivinegood，andnoevilthingishonourable；andhewhothinksthathecanhonourthesoulbywordorgift，oranysortofcompliance，withoutmakingherinanywaybetter，seemstohonourher，buthonourshernotatall。Forexample，everyman，fromhisveryboyhood，fanciesthatheisabletoknoweverything，andthinksthathehonourshissoulbypraisingher，andheisveryreadytoletherdowhatevershemaylike。ButImeantosaythatinactingthusheinjureshissoul，andisfarfromhonouringher；whereas，inouropinion，heoughttohonourherassecondonlytotheGods。Again，whenamanthinksthatothersaretobeblamed，andnothimself，fortheerrorswhichhehascommittedfromtimetotime，andthemanyandgreatevilswhichbefellhiminconsequence，andisalwaysfancyinghimselftobeexemptandinnocent，heisundertheideathatheishonouringhissoul；whereastheveryreverseisthefact，forheisreallyinjuringher。Andwhen，disregardingthewordandapprovalofthelegislator，heindulgesinpleasure，thenagainheisfarfromhonouringher；heonlydishonoursher，andfillsherfullofevilandremorse；orwhenhedoesnotenduretotheendthelaboursandfearsandsorrowsandpainswhichthelegislatorapproves，butgiveswaybeforethem，then，byyielding，hedoesnothonourthesoul，butbyallsuchconducthemakeshertobedishonourable；norwhenhethinksthatlifeatanypriceisagood，doeshehonourher，butyetoncemorehedishonoursher；forthesoulhavinganotionthattheworldbelowisallevil，heyieldstoher，anddoesnotresistandteachorconvinceherthat，foraughtsheknows，theworldoftheGodsbelow，insteadofbeingevil，maybethegreatestofallgoods。Again，whenanyoneprefersbeautytovirtue，whatisthisbuttherealandutterdishonourofthesoul？Forsuchapreferenceimpliesthatthebodyismorehonourablethanthesoul；andthisisfalse，forthereisnothingofearthlybirthwhichismorehonourablethantheheavenly，andhewhothinksotherwiseofthesoulhasnoideahowgreatlyheundervaluesthiswonderfulpossession；nor，again，whenapersoniswilling，ornotunwilling，toacquiredishonestgains，doeshethenhonourhissoulwithgifts-farotherwise；hesellshergloryandhonourforasmallpieceofgold；
　　butallthegoldwhichisunderorupontheearthisnotenoughtogiveinexchangeforvirtue。Inaword，Imaysaythathewhodoesnotestimatethebaseandevil，thegoodandnoble，accordingtothestandardofthelegislator，andabstainineverypossiblewayfromtheoneandpractisetheothertotheutmostofhispower，doesnotknowthatinalltheserespectsheismostfoullyanddisgracefullyabusinghissoul，whichisthedivinestpartofman；fornoone，asImaysay，everconsidersthatwhichisdeclaredtobethegreatestpenaltyofevil-doing——namely，togrowintothelikenessofbadmen，andgrowinglikethemtoflyfromtheconversationofthegood，andbecutofffromthem，andcleavetoandfollowafterthecompanyofthebad。Andhewhoisjoinedtothemmustdoandsufferwhatsuchmenbynaturedoandsaytooneanother-asufferingwhichisnotjusticebutretribution；forjusticeandthejustarenoble，whereasretributionisthesufferingwhichwaitsuponinjustice；andwhetheramanescapeorendurethis，heismiserable-intheformercase，becauseheisnotcured；whileinthelatter，heperishesinorderthattherestofmankindmaybesaved。
　　Speakinggenerally，ourgloryistofollowthebetterandimprovetheinferior，whichissusceptibleofimprovement，asfarasthisispossible。Andofallhumanpossessions，thesoulisbynaturemostinclinedtoavoidtheevil，andtrackoutandfindthechiefgood；
　　whichwhenamanhasfound，heshouldtakeuphisabodewithitduringtheremainderofhislife。Whereforethesoulalsoissecond[ornexttoGod]inhonour；andthird，aseveryonewillperceive，comesthehonourofthebodyinnaturalorder。Havingdeterminedthis，wehavenexttoconsiderthatthereisanaturalhonourofthebody，andthatofhonourssomearetrueandsomearecounterfeit。Todecidewhicharewhichisthebusinessofthelegislator；andhe，I
　　suspect，wouldintimatethattheyareasfollows：-Honourisnottobegiventothefairbody，ortothestrongortheswiftorthetall，ortothehealthybodyalthoughmanymaythinkotherwise，anymorethantotheiropposites；butthemeanstatesofallthesehabitsarebyfarthesafestandmostmoderate；fortheoneextrememakesthesoulbraggartandinsolent，andtheother，illiberalandbase；andmoney，andproperty，anddistinctionallgotothesametune。Theexcessofanyofthesethingsisapttobeasourceofhatredsanddivisionsamongstatesandindividuals；andthedefectofthemiscommonlyacauseofslavery。And，therefore，Iwouldnothaveanyonefondofheapinguprichesforthesakeofhischildren，inorderthathemayleavethemasrichaspossible。Forthepossessionofgreatwealthisofnouse，eithertothemortothestate。Theconditionofyouthwhichisfreefromflattery，andatthesametimenotinneedofthenecessariesoflife，isthebestandmostharmoniousofall，beinginaccordandagreementwithournature，andmakinglifetobemostentirelyfreefromsorrow。Letparents，then，bequeathtotheirchildrennotaheapofriches，butthespiritofreverence。We，indeed，fancythattheywillinheritreverencefromus，ifwerebukethemwhentheyshowawantofreverence。Butthisqualityisnotreallyimpartedtothembythepresentstyleofadmonition，whichonlytellsthemthattheyoungoughtalwaystobereverential。Asensiblelegislatorwillratherexhorttheelderstoreverencetheyounger，andabovealltotakeheedthatnoyoungmanseesorhearsoneofthemselvesdoingorsayinganythingdisgraceful；forwhereoldmenhavenoshame，thereyoungmenwillmostcertainlybedevoidofreverence。Thebestwayoftrainingtheyoungistotrainyourselfatthesametime；nottoadmonishthem，buttobealwayscarryingoutyourownadmonitionsinpractice。Hewhohonourshiskindred，andreveresthosewhoshareinthesameGodsandareofthesamebloodandfamily，mayfairlyexpectthattheGodswhopresideovergenerationwillbepropitioustohim，andwillquickenhisseed。Andhewhodeemstheserviceswhichhisfriendsandacquaintancesdoforhim，greaterandmoreimportantthantheythemselvesdeemthem，andhisownfavourstothemlessthantheirstohim，willhavetheirgood-willintheintercourseoflife。Andsurelyinhisrelationstothestateandhisfellowcitizens，heisbyfarthebest，whoratherthantheOlympicoranyothervictoryofpeaceorwar，desirestowinthepalmofobediencetothelawsofhiscountry，andwho，ofallmankind，isthepersonreputedtohaveobeyedthembestthroughlife。Inhisrelationstostrangers，amanshouldconsiderthatacontractisamostholything，andthatallconcernsandwrongsofstrangersaremoredirectlydependentontheprotectionofGod，thanwrongsdonetocitizens；forthestranger，havingnokindredandfriends，ismoretobepitiedbyGodsandmen。
　　Wherefore，also，hewhoismostabletoavengehimismostzealousinhiscause；andhewhoismostableisthegeniusandthegodofthestranger，whofollowinthetrainofZeus，thegodofstrangers。Andforthisreason，hewhohasasparkofcautioninhim，willdohisbesttopassthroughlifewithoutsinningagainstthestranger。Andofoffencescommitted，whetheragainststrangersorfellow-countrymen，thatagainstsuppliantsisthegreatest。Forthegodwhowitnessedtotheagreementmadewiththesuppliant，becomesinaspecialmannertheguardianofthesufferer；andhewillcertainlynotsufferunavenged。
　　Thuswehavefairlydescribedthemannerinwhichamanistoactabouthisparents，andhimself，andhisownaffairs；andinrelationtothestate，andhisfriends，andkindred，bothinwhatconcernshisowncountrymen，andinwhatconcernsthestranger。Wewillnowconsiderwhatmannerofmanhemustbewhowouldbestpassthroughlifeinrespectofthoseotherthingswhicharenotmattersoflaw，butofpraiseandblameonly；inwhichpraiseandblameeducateaman，andmakehimmoretractableandamenabletothelawswhichareabouttobeimposed。
　　Truthisthebeginningofeverygoodthing，bothtoGodsandmen；
　　andhewhowouldbeblessedandhappy，shouldbefromthefirstapartakerofthetruth，thathemayliveatruemanaslongaspossible，forthenhecanbetrusted；butheisnottobetrustedwholovesvoluntaryfalsehood，andhewholovesinvoluntaryfalsehoodisafool。Neitherconditionisenviable，fortheuntrustworthyandignoranthasnofriend，andastimeadvanceshebecomesknown，andlaysupinstoreforhimselfisolationincrabbedagewhenlifeisonthewane：sothat，whetherhischildrenorfriendsarealiveornot，heisequallysolitary-Worthyofhonourishewhodoesnoinjustice，andofmorethantwofoldhonour，ifhenotonlydoesnoinjusticehimself，buthindersothersfromdoingany；thefirstmaycountasoneman，thesecondisworthmanymen，becauseheinformstherulersoftheinjusticeofothers。Andyetmorehighlytobeesteemedishewhoco-operateswiththerulersincorrectingthecitizensasfarashecan-heshallbeproclaimedthegreatandperfectcitizen，andbearawaythepalmofvirtue。Thesamepraisemaybegivenabouttemperanceandwisdom，andallothergoodswhichmaybeimpartedtoothers，aswellasacquiredbyamanforhimself；hewhoimpartsthemshallbehonouredasthemanofmen，andhewhoiswilling，yetisnotable，maybeallowedthesecondplace；buthewhoisjealousandwillnot，ifhecanhelp，allowotherstopartakeinafriendlywayofanygood，isdeservingofblame：thegood，however，whichhehas，isnottobeundervaluedbyusbecauseitispossessedbyhim，butmustbeacquiredbyusalsototheutmostofourpower。Leteveryman，then，freelystrivefortheprizeofvirtue，andlettherebenoenvy。Fortheunenviousnatureincreasesthegreatnessofstates-hehimselfcontendsintherace，blastingthefairfameofnoman；buttheenvious，whothinksthatheoughttogetthebetterbydefamingothers，islessenergetichimselfinthepursuitoftruevirtue，andreduceshisrivalstodespairbyhisunjustslandersofthem。Andsohemakesthewholecitytoenterthearenauntrainedinthepracticeofvirtue，anddiminisheshergloryasfarasinhimlies。Noweverymanshouldbevaliant，butheshouldalsobegentle。
　　Fromthecruel，orhardlycurable，oraltogetherincurableactsofinjusticedonetohimbyothers，amancanonlyescapebyfightinganddefendinghimselfandconquering，andbyneverceasingtopunishthem；
　　andnomanwhoisnotofanoblespiritisabletoaccomplishthis。Astotheactionsofthosewhodoevil，butwhoseeviliscurable，inthefirstplace，letusrememberthattheunjustmanisnotunjustofhisownfreewill。Fornomanofhisownfreewillwouldchoosetopossessthegreatestofevils，andleastofallinthemosthonourablepartofhimself。Andthesoul，aswesaid，isofatruthdeemedbyallmenthemosthonourable。Inthesoul，then，whichisthemosthonourablepartofhim，noone，ifhecouldhelp，wouldadmit，orallowtocontinuethegreatestofevils。Theunrighteousandviciousarealwaystobepitiedinanycase；andonecanaffordtoforgiveaswellaspityhimwhoiscurable，andrefrainandcalmone’sanger，notgettingintoapassion，likeawoman，andnursingill-feeling。Butuponhimwhoisincapableofreformationandwhollyevil，thevialsofourwrathshouldbepouredout；whereforeIsaythatgoodmenought，whenoccasiondemands，tobebothgentleandpassionate。
　　Ofallevilsthegreatestisonewhichinthesoulsofmostmenisinnate，andwhichamanisalwaysexcusinginhimselfandnevercorrecting；mean，whatisexpressedinthesayingthat“Everymanbynatureisandoughttobehisownfriend。“Whereastheexcessiveloveofselfisinrealitythesourcetoeachmanofalloffences；fortheloverisblindedaboutthebeloved，sothathejudgeswronglyofthejust，thegood，andthehonourable，andthinksthatheoughtalwaystopreferhimselftothetruth。Buthewhowouldbeagreatmanoughttoregard，nothimselforhisinterests，butwhatisjust，whetherthejustactbehisownorthatofanother。Throughasimilarerrormenareinducedtofancythattheirownignoranceiswisdom，andthuswewhomaybetrulysaidtoknownothing，thinkthatweknowallthings；andbecausewewillnotletothersactforusinwhatwedonotknow，wearecompelledtoactamissourselves。
　　Whereforeleteverymanavoidexcessofself-love，andcondescendtofollowabettermanthanhimself，notallowinganyfalseshametostandintheway。Therearealsominorpreceptswhichareoftenrepeated，andarequiteasuseful；amanshouldrecollectthemandremindhimselfofthem。Forwhenastreamisflowingout，thereshouldbewaterflowingintoo；andrecollectionflowsinwhilewisdomisdeparting。ThereforeIsaythatamanshouldrefrainfromexcesseitheroflaughterortears，andshouldexhorthisneighbourtodothesame；heshouldveilhisimmoderatesorroworjoy，andseektobehavewithpropriety，whetherthegeniusofhisgoodfortuneremainswithhim，orwhetheratthecrisisofhisfate，whenheseemstobemountinghighandsteepplaces，theGodsopposehiminsomeofhisenterprises。Stillhemayeverhope，inthecaseofgoodmen，thatwhateverafflictionsaretobefalltheminthefutureGodwilllessen，andthatpresentevilshewillchangeforthebetter；andastothegoodswhicharetheoppositeoftheseevils，hewillnotdoubtthattheywillbeaddedtothem，andthattheywillbefortunate。Suchshouldbemen’shopes，andsuchshouldbetheexhortationswithwhichtheyadmonishoneanother，neverlosinganopportunity，butoneveryoccasiondistinctlyremindingthemselvesandothersofallthesethings，bothinjestandearnest。
　　Enoughhasnowbeensaidofdivinematters，bothastouchingthepracticeswhichmenoughttofollow，andastothesortofpersonswhotheyoughtseverallytobe。Butofhumanthingswehavenotasyetspoken，andwemust；fortomenwearediscoursingandnottoGods。
　　Pleasuresandpainsanddesiresareapartofhumannature，andonthemeverymortalbeingmustofnecessityhanganddependwiththemosteagerinterest。Andthereforewemustpraisethenoblestlife，notonlyasthefairestinappearance，butasbeingonewhich，ifamanwillonlytaste，andnot，whilestillinhisyouth，desertforanother，hewillfindtosurpassalsointheverythingwhichweallofusdesire-Imeaninhavingagreateramountofpleasureandlessofpainduringthewholeoflife。Andthiswillbeplain，ifamanhasatruetasteofthem，aswillbequicklyandclearlyseen。Butwhatisatruetaste？Thatwehavetolearnfromtheargument-thepointbeingwhatisaccordingtonature，andwhatisnotaccordingtonature。Onelifemustbecomparedwithanother，themorepleasurablewiththemorepainful，afterthismanner：-Wedesiretohavepleasure，butweneitherdesirenorchoosepain；andtheneutralstatewearereadytotakeinexchange，notforpleasurebutforpain；andwealsowishforlesspainandgreaterpleasure，butlesspleasureandgreaterpainwedonotwishfor；andanequalbalanceofeitherwecannotventuretoassertthatweshoulddesire。Andallthesedifferordonotdifferseverallyinnumberandmagnitudeandintensityandequality，andintheoppositesofthesewhenregardedasobjectsofchoice，inrelationtodesire。Andsuchbeingthenecessaryorderofthings，wewishforthatlifeinwhichtherearemanygreatandintenseelementsofpleasureandpain，andinwhichthepleasuresareinexcess，anddonotwishforthatinwhichtheoppositesexceed；
　　nor，again，dowewishforthatinwhichtheclementsofeitheraresmallandfewandfeeble，andthepainsexceed。Andwhen，asIsaidbefore，thereisabalanceofpleasureandpaininlife，thisistoberegardedbyusasthebalancedlife；whileotherlivesarepreferredbyusbecausetheyexceedinwhatwelike，orarerejectedbyusbecausetheyexceedinwhatwedislike。Allthelivesofmenmayberegardedbyusasboundupinthese，andwemustalsoconsiderwhatsortofliveswebynaturedesire。Andifwewishforanyothers，I
　　saythatwedesirethemonlythroughsomeignoranceandinexperienceoftheliveswhichactuallyexist。