appears to decay and to grow old and to be useless she changes into
herself, and again makes other new things from these very same, so that
she requires neither substance from without nor wants a place into which
she may cast that which decays. She is content then with her own space,
and her own matter, and her own art.

51. Neither in thy actions be sluggish nor in thy conversation without
method, nor wandering in thy thoughts, nor let there be in thy soul
inward contention nor external effusion, nor in life be so busy as to
have no leisure.

Suppose that men kill thee, cut thee in pieces, curse thee. What then can
these things do to prevent thy mind from remaining pure, wise, sober,
just? For instance, if a man should stand by a limpid pure spring, and
curse it, the spring never ceases sending up potable water; and if he
should cast clay into it or filth, it will speedily disperse them and
wash them out, and will not be at all polluted. How then shalt thou
possess a perpetual fountain [and not a mere well]? By forming thyself
hourly to freedom conjoined with contentment, simplicity, and modesty.

52. He who does not know what the world is, does not know where he is.
And he who does not know for what purpose the world exists, does not know
who he is, nor what the world is. But he who has failed in any one of
these things could not even say for what purpose he exists himself. What
then dost thou think of him who [avoids or] seeks the praise of those who
applaud, of men who know not either where they are or who they are?

53. Dost thou wish to be praised by a man who curses himself thrice every
hour? Wouldst thou wish to please a man who does not please himself? Does
a man please himself who repents of nearly everything that he does?