3. But what? this business of instruction is not very safe at present, and least of all in Rome; for he who pursues it will of course feel constrained not to do it in a corner, but he must go to some man of consular rank, it may be, or some rich man, and inquire of him: Sir, can you tell me to whom you have committed the care of your horses? _Surely._ Was it, then, to any chance-comer and one inexperienced about horses? _By no means._ Well, then, to whom are your gold and silver vessels and raiment entrusted? _Neither are these committed to any chance person._ And your body, have you already sought out one to whom to commit the care of it? _How not?_ And that also one who is experienced in training and medicine? _Assuredly._ Whether, now, are these the best things you have, or do you possess aught that is better than all of them? _What thing do you mean?_ That, by Zeus, which useth all these, and approveth each of them and taketh counsel? _Is it the soul, then, that you mean?_ You have conceived me rightly; it is even this. _Truly I hold that I possess in this something much better than everything else._ Can you then declare to us in what manner you have taken thought for your soul? for it is not likely that a wise man like yourself, and one of repute in the State, would overlook the best think you possess, and use no diligence or design about it, but leave it neglected and perishing? _Surely not._ But do you provide for it yourself? and have you learned the way from another, or discovered it yourself? 4. And then at last there is danger lest he say first, _Good sir, what is this to you? who are you?_ and then, if you persist in troubling him, that he may lift up his hands and smite you. Once I too was an admirer of this method until I fell into these difficulties. CHAPTER IV. THAT WE SHOULD BE SLOW IN ACCEPTING PLEASURE. 1. When thou hast received the appearance of some pleasure, then, as in other things, guard thyself lest thou be carried away by it, but delay with thyself a little, and let the thing await thee for a while. Then bethink thyself of the two periods of time, one when thou shalt be enjoying the pleasure, the other, when, having enjoyed it, thou shalt afterwards repent of it and reproach thyself. And set on the other side how thou shalt rejoice and commend thyself if thou abstain. 2. But if it seem reasonable to thee to do the thing, beware lest thou have been conquered by the flattery and the sweetness and the allurement of it. But set on the other side how much better were the consciousness of having won that victory. CHAPTER V. THAT WE SHOULD BE OPEN IN OUR DEALINGS. In doing aught which thou hast clearly discerned as right to do, seek never to avoid being seen in the doing of it, even though the multitude should be destined to form some wrong opinion concerning it. For if thou dost not right, avoid the deed itself. But if rightly, why fear those who will wrongly rebuke thee? CHAPTER VI.