"The world is in chaos. Honorable dealing is
deteriorating, good friends are few, truth is
held in disrepute, good service is underpaid,
poor service is overpaid. Whole nations are
committed to evil dealings: With one you fear
insecurity, with another, inconsistency, with
a third, betrayal. This being what it is, let the
bad faith of others serve not as an example,
but as warning. The real danger of the situation
lies in the unhinging of your own integrity:
accepting less than your best, being overly
tolerant of stupidity, forgiving incompetence,
fraternizing with the nonspiritual. The man of
principle never forgets what he is, because
he clearly sees what the others are."
1. all has reached perfection, and becoming a
true person is the greatest perfection of all...
2. character and intelligence. the poles your
talent spins on, displaying your gifts. one without
the other brings only half success....
27. better to be intensive than extensive.
perfection isn't quantity, but quality...
41. never exaggerate. it isn't wise to use
superlatives. they offend the truth and cast doubt
on your judgment....
55. know how to wait. it shows a great heart with
deep reserves of patience. never hurry and never
give way to your emotions...
61. eminence in what is best. amid different sorts
of perfection, this is a rarity...
62. use the best instruments. some people want
to be thought subtle because they use poor
instruments.
111. have friends. they are a second being. to a
friend, all friends are good and wise. when you are
with them, all turn out well.
129. never complain. complaints always discredit
you. rather than compassion and consolation,
they provoke passion and insolence, and encourage
those who hear our complaints to behave like those
we complain about.
299. leave people hungry. leave nectar on
their lips. esteem is measured in desire...
263. many pleasant things are better when they
belong to someone else. you can enjoy them
more that way. the first day, pleasure belongs
to the owner after that, to others...
206. know that there are vulgar people everywhere,
even in Corinth, and even in the most distinguished
family. pay no attention to what they say, and less
to what they feel...
198. know how to transplant yourself. there are
entire people who are esteemed only after
transplanting themselves, and this is especially
true in high places. some people were scorned in
their own little corner of the world but achieved
worldly eminence...
160. speak prudently: cautiously to your rivals, and
with dignity to everyone else. there is always time
to utter a word, and never time to take it back...
