30. The intelligence of the universe is social. Accordingly it has made
the inferior things for the sake of the superior, and it has fitted the
superior to one another. Thou seest how it has subordinated, co-ordinated,
and assigned to everything its proper portion, and has brought
together into concord with one another the things which are the best.

31. How hast thou behaved hitherto to the gods, thy parents, brethren,
children, teachers, to those who looked after thy infancy, to thy
friends, kinsfolk, to thy slaves? Consider if thou hast hitherto behaved
to all in such a way that this may be said of thee,--

"Never has wronged a man in deed or word."

And call to recollection both how many things thou hast passed through,
and how many things thou hast been able to endure and that the history of
thy life is now complete and thy service is ended; and how many beautiful
things thou hast seen; and how many pleasures and pains thou hast
despised; and how many things called honorable thou hast spurned; and to
how many ill-minded folks thou hast shown a kind disposition.

32. Why do unskilled and ignorant souls disturb him who has skill and
knowledge? What soul then has skill and knowledge? That which knows
beginning and end, and knows the reason which pervades all substance, and
through all time by fixed periods [revolutions] administers the universe.

33. Soon, very soon, thou wilt be ashes, or a skeleton, and either a name
or not even a name; but name is sound and echo. And the things which are
much valued in life are empty and rotten and trifling, and [like] little
dogs biting one another, and little children quarrelling, laughing, and