16. Neither is transpiration, as in plants, a thing to be valued, nor
respiration, as in domesticated animals and wild beasts, nor the
receiving of impressions by the appearances of things, nor being moved by
desires as puppets by strings, nor assembling in herds, nor being
nourished by food; for this is just like the act of separating and
parting with the useless part of our food. What then is worth being
valued? To be received with clapping of hands? No. Neither must we value
the clapping of tongues; for the praise which comes from the many is a
clapping of tongues. Suppose then that thou hast given up this worthless
thing called fame, what remains that is worth valuing? This, in my
opinion: to move thyself and to restrain thyself in conformity to thy
proper constitution, to which end both all employments and arts lead. For
every art aims at this, that the thing which has been made should be
adapted to the work for which it has been made; and both the vine planter
who looks after the vine, and the horsebreaker, and he who trains the
dog, seek this end. But the education and the teaching of youth aim at
something. In this then is the value of the education and the teaching.
And if this is well, thou wilt not seek anything else. Wilt thou not
cease to value many other things too? Then thou wilt be neither free, nor
sufficient for thy own happiness, nor without passion. For of necessity
thou must be envious, jealous, and suspicious of those who can take away
those things, and plot against those who have that which is valued by
thee. Of necessity a man must be altogether in a state of perturbation
who wants any of these things; and besides, he must often find fault with
the gods. But to reverence and honor thy own mind will make thee content
with thyself, and in harmony with society, and in agreement with the
gods, that is, praising all that they give and have ordered.

17. Above, below, all around are the movements of the elements. But the