“Death finds us ’midst our playthings; snatches us,
      As a cross nurse might do a wayward child,
      From all our toys and baubles—­the rough call
      Unlooses all our favourite ties on earth: 
      And well if they are such as may be answered
      In yonder world, where all is judged of truly.”

[Footnote 65:  Compare Cowper’s Conversation:—­
     “Am I to set my life upon a throw
      Because a bear is rude and surly?—­No.—­
      A modest, sensible, and well-bred man
      Will not insult me, and no other can.”]

“Preserve your just relations to other men; their misconduct does not affect your duties.  Has your father done wrong, or your brother been unjust?  Still he is your father, he is your brother; and you must consider your relation to him, not whether he be worthy of it or no.

“Your duty towards the gods is to form just and true opinions respecting them.  Believe that they do all things well, and then you need never murmur or complain.”

“As rules of practice,” says Epictetus, “prescribe to yourself an ideal, and then act up to it.  Be mostly silent; or, if you converse, do not let it be about vulgar and insignificant topics, such as dogs, horses, racing, or prize-fighting.  Avoid foolish and immoderate laughter, vulgar entertainments, impurity, display, spectacles, recitations, and all egotistical remarks.  Set before you the examples of the great and good.  Do not be dazzled by mere appearances.  Do what is right quite irrespective of what people will say or think.  Remember that your body is a very small matter and needs but very little; just as all that the foot needs is a shoe, and not a dazzling ornament of gold, purple, or jewelled embroidery.  To spend all one’s time on the body, or on bodily exercises, shows a weak intellect.  Do not be fond of criticising others, and do not resent their criticisms of you.  Everything,” he says, and this is one of his most characteristic precepts, “has two handles! one by which it may be borne, the other by which it cannot.  If your brother be unjust, do not take up the matter by that handle—­the handle of his injustice—­for that handle is the one by which it cannot be taken up; but rather by the handle that he is your brother and brought up with you; and then you will be taking it up as it can be borne.”

All these precepts have a general application, but Epictetus adds others on the right bearing of a philosopher; that is, of one whose professed ideal is higher than the multitude.  He bids him above all things not to be censorious, and not to be ostentatious.  “Feed on your own principles; do not throw them up to show how much you have eaten.  Be self-denying, but do not boast of it.  Be independent and moderate, and regard not the opinion or censure of others, but keep a watch upon yourself as your own most dangerous enemy.  Do not plume yourself on an intellectual