Is your drop of oil spilt? Is your sup of wine stolen? Say to yourself, 'This is the price paid for freedom from passion, this is the price of a quiet mind.' Nothing can be had without a price.

Ask not that events should happen as you will, but let your will be that events should happen as they do, and you shall have

Remember that you must behave in life as you would at a banquet. A dish is handed round and comes to you; put out your hand and take it politely. It passes you; do not stop it. It has not reached you; do not be impatient to get it, but wait till your turn comes.

Is it your business to get office or to be invited to an entertainment? Certainly not. Where then is the dishonor you talk of? How can you be 'of no account anywhere,' when you ought to count for something in those matters only which are in your power, where you may achieve the highest worth?

Keep this thought by you: 'What distresses him is not the event, for that does not distress another, but his judgment on the event.' Therefore do not hesitate to sympathize with him so far as words go, and if it so chance, even to groan with him; but take heed that you do not also groan in your inner being.

8. Ask not that events should happen as you will, but let your will be that events should happen as they do, and you shall have peace.

On no occasion call yourself a philosopher, nor talk at large of your principles among the multitude, but act on your principles. For

are: he blames none, praises none, complains of none, accuses none, never speaks of himself as if he were somebody,

And when some one says to you, 'You know nothing,' and you do not let it provoke you, then know that you are really on the right road.