Cicero

And above all, he should be on the watch that his conversation shall not betray some defect in his character.

If it is grave, he should treat it with seriousness; if humorous, with wit.

And the one who engages in conversation should not debar others from participating in it, as if he were entering upon a private monopoly; but, as in other things, so in a general conversation he should think it not unfair for each to have…

We must be careful, therefore, to employ our thoughts on themes as elevating as possible and to keep our impulses under the control of reason.

Thought is occupied chiefly with the discovery of truth; impulse prompts to action.

And we shall not fail in this if we guard against violent excitement or depression, and if we keep our minds intent on the observance of propriety.

But it is much more important that we succeed in keeping our mental operations in harmony with nature's laws.

In this, as in most things, the best rule is the golden mean.

Therefore, let all finery not suitable to a man's dignity be kept off his person, and let him guard against the like fault in gesture and action.

Again, there are two orders of beauty: in the one, loveliness predominates; in the other, dignity; of these, we ought to regard loveliness as the attribute of woman, and dignity as the attribute of man.

We must, therefore, keep to the path of this sort of modesty, especially when Nature is our teacher and guide.

So, in standing or walking, in sitting or reclining, in our expression, our eyes, or the movements of our hands, let us preserve what we have called "propriety.

Robbery, fraud, and adultery, for example, are immoral in deed, but it is not indecent to name them.

But there is nothing so essentially proper as to maintain consistency in the performance of every act and in the conception of every plan.

It is, then, peculiarly the place of a magistrate to bear in mind that he represents the state and that it is his duty to uphold its honour and its dignity, to enforce the law, to dispense to all their constitutional rights, and to…

But if excess in sensual indulgence is added to luxurious living, it is a twofold evil; for old age not only disgraces itself; it also serves to make the excesses of the young more shameless.

But there is nothing against which old age has to be more on its guard than against surrendering to feebleness and idleness, while luxury, a vice in any time of life, is in old age especially scandalous.

They should endeavour, too, by means of their counsel and practical wisdom to be of as much service as possible to their friends and to the young, and above all to the state.

And even when they wish to relax their minds and give themselves up to enjoyment they should beware of excesses and bear in mind the rules of modesty.

And this time of life is above all to be protected against sensuality and trained to toil and endurance of both mind and body, so as to be strong for active duty in military and civil service.

For the inexperience of youth requires the practical wisdom of age to strengthen and direct it.

The noblest heritage, however, that is handed down from fathers to children, and one more precious than any inherited wealth, is a reputation for virtue and worthy deeds; and to dishonour this must be branded as a sin and a shame.

For Nature is so much more stable and steadfast, that for Fortune to come into conflict with Nature seems like a combat between a mortal and a goddess.

Regal powers and military commands, nobility of birth and political office, wealth and influence, and their opposites depend upon chance and are, therefore, controlled by circumstances. #Selection of a career:# But what rôle we ourselves…

We shall, therefore, work to the best advantage in that rôle to which we are best adapted.