I. Remember how long thou hast already put off these things, and how
II. Let it be thy earnest and incessant care as a Roman and a man to
III. Do, soul, do; abuse and contemn thyself; yet a while and the time
IV. Why should any of these things that happen externally, so much
V. For not observing the state of another man's soul, scarce was ever
VI. These things thou must always have in mind: What is the nature
VII. Theophrastus, where he compares sin with sin (as after a vulgar
VIII. Whatsoever thou dost affect, whatsoever thou dost project, so do,
IX. Consider how quickly all things are dissolved and resolved: the
X. It is the part of a man endowed with a good understanding faculty, to
XI. Consider with thyself how man, and by what part of his, is joined
XII. If thou shouldst live three thousand, or as many as ten thousands
XIII. Remember that all is but opinion and conceit, for those things
XIV. A man's soul doth wrong and disrespect itself first and especially,
XV. The time of a man's life is as a point; the substance of it ever
THE THIRD BOOK
I. A man must not only consider how daily his life wasteth and
II. This also thou must observe, that whatsoever it is that naturally
III. Hippocrates having cured many sicknesses, fell sick himself and
IV. Spend not the remnant of thy days in thoughts and fancies concerning
V. Do nothing against thy will, nor contrary to the community, nor
VI. To be cheerful, and to stand in no need, either of other men's help
VII. If thou shalt find anything in this mortal life better than
VIII. Never esteem of anything as profitable, which shall ever constrain
IX. In the mind that is once truly disciplined and purged, thou canst
X. Use thine opinative faculty with all honour and respect, for in
XI. To these ever-present helps and mementoes, let one more be added,
XII. What is this, that now my fancy is set upon? of what things doth
XIII. If thou shalt intend that which is present, following the rule of
XIV. As physicians and chirurgeons have always their instruments ready
XV. Be not deceived; for thou shalt never live to read thy moral
XVI. To steal, to sow, to buy, to be at rest, to see what is to be done
XVII. To be capable of fancies and imaginations, is common to man and
THE FOURTH BOOK
I. That inward mistress part of man if it be in its own true natural
II. Let nothing be done rashly, and at random, but all things according
III. They seek for themselves private retiring
IV. If to understand and to be reasonable be common unto all men, then
V. As generation is, so also death, a secret of nature's wisdom: a
VI. Such and such things, from such and such causes, must of necessity
VII. Let opinion be taken away, and no man will think himself wronged.
VIII. Whatsoever doth happen in the world, doth happen justly, and so if
IX. Conceit no such things, as he that wrongeth thee conceiveth,
X. These two rules, thou must have always in a readiness. First, do
XI. Hast thou reason? I have. Why then makest thou not use of it? For if
XII. As a part hitherto thou hast had a particular subsistence: and now
XIII. Within ten days, if so happen, thou shalt be esteemed a god of
XIV. Not as though thou hadst thousands of years to live. Death hangs
XV. Now much time and leisure doth he gain, who is not curious to know
XVI. He who is greedy of credit and reputation after his death, doth
XVII. If so be that the souls remain after death (say they that will not
XVIII. Not to wander out of the way, but upon every motion and desire,
XIX. Whatsoever is expedient unto thee, O World, is expedient unto me;
XX. They will say commonly, Meddle not with many things, if thou wilt
XXI. Try also how a good man's life; (of one, who is well pleased with
XXII. Either this world is a kosmoz or comely piece, because all
