h, when I cannot show my deeds
to be in harmony and accordance with his sayings.

CLXXVIII

At feasts, remember that you are entertaining two guests, body and soul.
What you give to the body, you presently lose; what you give to the
soul, you keep for ever.

CLXXIX

At meals, see to it that those who serve be not more in number than
those who are served. It is absurd for a crowd of persons to be dancing
attendance on half a dozen chairs.

CLXXX

It is best to share with your attendants what is going forward, both in
the labour of preparation and in the enjoyment of the feast itself. If
such a thing be difficult at the time, recollect that you who are
not weary are being served by those that are; you who are eating and
drinking by those who do neither; you who are talking by those who are
silent; you who are at ease by those who are under constraint. Thus no
sudden wrath will betray you into unreasonable conduct, nor will you
behave harshly by irritating another.

CLXXXI

When Xanthippe was chiding Socrates for making scanty preparation for
entertaining his friends, he answered:--"If they are friends of ours
they will not care for that; if they are not, we shall care nothing for
them!"

CLXXXII

Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, "He who is content."

CLXXXIII

Favorinus tells us how Epictetus would also say that there were two
faults far graver and fouler than any others--inability to bear, and
inability to forbear, when we neither patiently bear the blows that
must be borne, nor abstain from the things and the pleasures we ought to
abstain from. "So," he went on, "if a man will only have these two words
at heart, and heed them carefully by ruling and watching over himself,
he will for the most part fall into no sin, and his life will be
tranquil and serene." He meant the words a a --"Bear and Forbear."

CLXXXIV

On all occasions these thoughts should be at hand:--

Lead me, O God, and Thou, O Destiny
Be what it may the goal appointed me,
Bravely I'll follow; nay, and if I would not,
I'd prove a coward, yet must follow still!

Again:

Who to Necessity doth bow aright,
Is learn'd in wisdom and the things of God.

Once more:--

Crito, if this be God's will, so let it be. As for me,
Anytus and Meletus can indeed put me to death, but injure me,
never!

CLXXXV

We shall then be like Socrat