Every great power (faculty) is dangerous to beginners.  You must then bear such things as you are able, but conformably to nature:  but not ...  Practise sometimes a way of living like a person out of health that you may at some time live like a man in health.

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Certain miscellaneous matters.—­As bad tragic actors cannot sing alone, but in company with many, so some persons cannot walk about alone.  Man, if you are anything, both walk alone and talk to yourself, and do not hide yourself in the chorus.  Examine a little at last, look around, stir yourself up, that you may know who you are.

You must root out of men these two things, arrogance (pride) and distrust.  Arrogance then is the opinion that you want nothing (are deficient in nothing); but distrust is the opinion that you cannot be happy when so many circumstances surround you.  Arrogance is removed by confutation; and Socrates was the first who practised this.  And (to know) that the thing is not impossible inquire and seek.  This search will do you no harm; and in a manner this is philosophizing, to seek how it is possible to employ desire and aversion ([Greek:  echchlisis]) without impediment.

I am superior to you, for my father is a man of consular rank.  Another says, I have been a tribune, but you have not.  If we were horses, would you say, My father was swifter?  I have much barley and fodder, or elegant neck ornaments.  If then you were saying this, I said, Be it so:  let us run then.  Well, is there nothing in a man such as running in a horse, by which it will be known which is superior and inferior?  Is there not modesty ([Greek:  aidos]), fidelity, justice?  Show yourself superior in these, that you may be superior as a man.  If you tell me that you can kick violently, I also will say to you, that you are proud of that which is the act of an ass.

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That we ought to proceed with circumspection to everything.[Footnote:  Compare Encheiridion, 29.]—­In every act consider what precedes and what follows, and then proceed to the act.  If you do not consider, you will at first begin with spirit, since you have not thought at all of the things which follow; but afterwards when some consequences have shown themselves, you will basely desist (from that which you have begun).—­I wish to conquer at the Olympic games.—­(And I too, by the gods; for it is a fine thing.) But consider here what precedes and what follows; and then, if it is for your good, undertake the thing.  You must act according to rules, follow strict diet, abstain from delicacies, exercise yourself by compulsion at fixed times, in heat, in cold; drink no cold water, nor wine, when there is opportunity of drinking it.  In a word, you must surrender yourself to the trainer, as you do to a physician.  Next in the contest,