How then shall I become of an affectionate disposition?

In having a generous and happy one. For Reason doth never decree that a man must be abject, or lament, or depend on another, or blame God or man.

If ye will hearken unto me, O men, wheresoever ye be, whatsoever ye do, ye shall not grieve; ye shall not be wroth; ye shall not be compelled or hindered: but ye shall live untroubled and free from every ill.

Now can no evil happen to me; for me there is no robber, no earthquake; all things are full of peace, full of calm; for me no way, no city, no associate, hath any hurt.

He hath placed at every man's side a Guardian, the genius of each man, who is charged to watch over him; a genius that cannot sleep, nor be deceived.

And what shall ye swear? Never to disobey, never to accuse, never to blame aught that He hath given, never unwillingly to do or suffer any necessary thing.

And what is the essence of God? Mind, Intelligence, right Reason? Even So. Here then, once for all, seek the essence of the Good.

But thou art a supreme object, thou art a piece of God, thou hast in thee something that is a portion of him. Why, then, art thou ignorant of thy high ancestry? Nay, but in thyself thou dost bear him; and seest thou not that thou defilest him with thine impure thoughts and unrighteous deeds?

Nay, for not only did He make thee, but to thee alone did he trust and commit thyself. Wilt thou not remember this too, or wilt thou dishonor thy charge?

If God had committed some orphan child to thee, wouldst thou have neglected it? Now he hath given thee to thyself, and saith: "I had none other more worthy of trust than thee; keep this man such as he was made by nature, reverent, faithful, high, unterrified, unshaken of passions, untroubled."

Go before no man with trembling, but know well that all events are indifferent and nothing to thee. For whatever it may be, it shall lie with thee to use it nobly: this no man can prevent.

Resolve at last to seek thine own commendation, to appear fair in the eyes of God; desire to become pure with thine own pure self, and with God.

What then? Can a man make this resolve and so stand up faultless? He cannot; but this much he can,-to be ever striving toward faultlessness.

For thou art not flesh and hair but a Will ; if thou keep this beautiful, then wilt thou be beautiful.

And when some one shall say to thee, "Thou knowest naught,” and it bites thee not, then know that thou hast begun the work.

The position and token of the vulgar : he looks never to himself for benefit or hurt,

but always to outward things. The position and character of the philosopher: he looks only to himself for benefit or hurt.

For thou art not come into this world to choose out its pleasanter places, but to dwell in those where thou wast born, and whereof thou wast appointed to be a citizen.

Abide in thy purposes as in laws which it were impious to transgress.

And whatsoever any man may say of thee, regard it not; for neither is this anything of thine own.

Now, at last, therefore hold thyself worthy to live as a man of full age and one who is pressing forward, and let everything that appeareth the best to thee, be as an inviolable law. And if any toil or pleasure or reputation or the loss of it be laid upon thee, remember that now is the contest, here already are the Olympian games, and there is no deferring them any longer; that in a single day or a single trial, ground is to be lost or gained.

Hold in readiness for every need these :"Lead me, O Zeus, and thou Destiny, whithersoever ye have appointed me to go, and may I follow fearlessly, But if in an evil mind I be unwilling, still must I follow." And :-" That man is wise among us, and hath understanding of things divine, who hath nobly agreed with necessity."

But the third also:-"O Crito, if so it seems good to the gods, so let it be. Anytus and Meletus are able to kill me indeed, but to harm me, never."