nt, just the same is it with the whole respiratory power,
which thou didst receive at thy birth yesterday and the day before, to
give it back to the element from which thou didst first draw it.

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 horse-breaker, 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
motion of virtue is in none of these: it is something more divine, and
advancing by a way hardly observed, it goes happily on its road.

18. How strangely men act! They will not praise those who are living at
the same time and living with themselves; but to be themselves praised
by posterity