Let a man use great reverence and manners to himself.
Golden Verses So-called because they are "good as gold." They are by some attributed to Epicarmos, and by others to Empedocles, but always go under the name of Pythagoras, and seem quite in accordance with the excellent precepts of that philosopher. They are as follows: Ne'er suffer sleep thine eyes to close Before thy mind hath run O'er every act, and thought, and word, From dawn to set of sun; For wrong take shame, but grateful feel If just thy course hath been; Such effort day by day renewed Will ward thy soul from sin. E. C. B.
There are men and gods, and beings like Pythagoras.
The earth affords a lavish supply of richess of innocent foods, and offers you banquets that involve no bloodshed or slaughter; only beasts satisfy their hunger with flesh, and not even all of those, because horses, cattle, and sheep live on grass.
Number is the ruler of forms and ideas, and the cause of gods and daemons.
So tutor youth that the sins of age be not imputed to thee.
A stranger, if just, is not only to be preferred before a countryman, but a kinsman.
But respect yourself most of all.
It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good.
Neither will the horse be adjudged to be generous, that is sumptuously adorned, but the horse whose nature is illustrious; nor is the man worthy who possesses great wealth, but he whose soul is generous.
