formable to
nature. For another will not damage you, unless you choose: but you will
be damaged then when you shall think that you are damaged. In this way
then you will discover your duty from the relation of a neighbor, from
that of a citizen, from that of a general, if you are accustomed to
contemplate the relations.

XXXI.

As to piety towards the gods you must know that this is the chief thing,
to have right opinions about them, to think that they exist, and that
they administer the All well and justly; and you must fix yourself in
this principle (duty), to obey them, and to yield to them in everything
which happens, and voluntarily to follow it as being accomplished by the
wisest intelligence. For if you do so, you will never either blame the
gods, nor will you accuse them of neglecting you. And it is not possible
for this to be done in any other way than by withdrawing from the things
which are not in our power, and by placing the good and the evil only in
those things which are in our power. For if you think that any of the
things which are not in our power is good or bad, it is absolutely
necessary that, when you do not obtain what you wish, and when you fall
into those things which you do not wish, you will find fault and hate
those who are the cause of them; for every animal is formed by nature to
this, to fly from and to turn from the things which appear harmful and
the things which are the cause of the harm, but to follow and admire the
things which are useful and the causes of the useful. It is impossible
then for a person who thinks that he is harmed to be delighted with that
which he thinks to be the cause of the harm, as it is also impossible to
be pleased with the harm itself. For this reason also a father is
reviled by his son, when he gives no part to his son of the things which
are considered to be good; and it was this which made Polynices and
Eteocles enemies, the opinion that royal power was a good. It is for
this reason that the cultivator of the earth reviles the gods, for this
reason the sailor does, and the merchant, and for this reason those who
lose their wives and their children. For where the useful (your
interest) is, there also piety is. Consequently he who takes care to
desire as he ought and to avoid ([Greek: echchlinein]) as he ought, at
the same time also cares after piety. But to make libations and to
sacrifice and to offer first-fruits according to the custom of our
fathers, pur