He is dear to divinity, who considers those things alone to be precious, which are esteemed to be so by divinity. Every thing which is more than necessary to man, is hostile to him. He who loves that which is not expedient, will not love that which is expedient. The intellect of the wise man is always with divinity. God dwells in the intellect of the wise man. Every desire is insatiable, and therefore is always in want. The wise man is always similar to himself. The knowledge and imitation of divinity, are alone sufficient to beatitude. Use lying as poison. Nothing is so peculiar to wisdom as truth. When you preside over men, remember that divinity also presides over you. Be persuaded that the end of life, is to live conformably to divinity. Depraved affections are the beginnings of sorrows. An evil disposition is the disease of the soul; but injustice and impiety are the death of it. Use all men in such a way, as if you were the common curator of all things after God. He who uses mankind badly, uses himself badly. Wish that you may be able to benefit your enemies. Endure all things, in order that you may live conformably to God. By honoring a wise man, you will honor yourself. In all your actions place God before your eyes.[92] You are permitted to refuse matrimony, in order that you may live incessantly adhering to God.[93] If, however, as one knowing the battle, you are willing to fight, take a wife, and beget children. To live, indeed, is not in our power, but to live rightly is. Be unwilling to admit accusations against the man who is studious of wisdom. If you wish to live with hilarity, be unwilling to do many things. For in a multitude of actions you will be minor. Every cup should be sweet to you which extinguishes thirst. Fly from intoxication as you would from insanity. No good originates from the body. Think that you suffer a great punishment when you obtain the object of corporeal desire; for the attainment of such objects never satisfies desire. Invoke God as a witness to whatever you do. The bad man does not think there is a providence. Assert that which possesses wisdom in you, to be the [true] man.[94] The wise man participates of God. Where that which is wise in you resides, there also is your good. That which is not noxious to the soul, is not noxious to man. He who unjustly expels a wise man from the body, confers a benefit on him by his iniquity. For he thus becomes liberated as it were, from bonds. The fear of death renders a man sad through the ignorance of his soul. You will not possess intellect, till you understand that you have it. Think that your body is the garment of your soul; and therefore preserve it pure. Impure dæmons vindicate to themselves the impure soul. Speak not of God to every man. It is dangerous, and the danger is not small, to speak of God even things which are true. A true assertion respecting God, is an assertion of God.