Sentences of Sextus: Greek Maxims

Contents

1. 1A faithful person is an elect person.
2. 2An elect person is a person of God.
3. 3A person of God is one who is worthy of God.
4. 4Worthy of God is one who does nothing unworthy of God.
5. 5So, when you endeavour to be faithful, do nothing unworthy of God.
6. 6One of little faith is faithless in faith.
7. 7The faithful person, tested in faith, is a god in a living human body. The one faithless in faith is a dead person in a living body.
8. 8Faithful in truth is the one who is without sin.
9. 9Live with exactness even in the smallest things.
10. 10For in life a small miss is no small thing.
11. 11Consider every sin an impiety.
12. 12It is not the eye or the hand that sins, or anything of the kind, but the one who uses hand and eye badly.
13. 13Cast away every member of the body that persuades you not to be self-controlled; for it is better to live self-controlled without the member than with the member to your ruin.
14. 14Consider that at the judgment both the honours and the punishments will be everlasting for you.
15. 15Whatever of the world's goods you have, even if someone takes them from you, do not be indignant.
16. 16Do not make yourself open to reproach before the world.
17. 17Except for your freedom, yield to your neighbour when he takes everything from you.
18. 18A wise man without possessions is like God.
19. 19Use the things of the world only for what is necessary.
20. 20Render exactly the things of the world to the world, and the things of God to God.
21. 21Consider that you hold your soul as a deposit from God.
22. 22When you speak about God, you are judged by God.
23. 23Consider wronging no one the best purification.
24. 24A soul is purified by the word of God through a wise man.
25. 25Never be persuaded that the being of God is without perception.
26. 26God, inasmuch as he is self-moving mind, in that very respect also subsists.
27. 27You would not find out the greatness of God even if you flew on wings.
28. 28Do not seek the name of God, for you will not find it. Everything that is named is named by something superior, so that the one may call and the other obey. Who, then, has named God? “God” is not God's name, but an opinion about God.
29. 29So seek nothing in God that is not there.
30. 30God is wise light, which admits no opposite.
31. 31All that God made, he made for the sake of human beings.
32. 32An angel is God's servant toward human beings, and toward no one else; so a human being is more precious to God than an angel.
33. 33The first that does good is God; the second, which receives good, is the human being.
34. 34Live, then, as one who stands next after God.
35. 35Since you are elect, you have in your make-up something like God; use your make-up, then, as a temple of God.
36. 36God gives the faithful authority according to God; so he gives it pure and without sin.
37. 37Let the world respect your life.
38. 38Give no one occasion to reproach you.
39. 39After release from the body, an evil demon calls to account one who has lived badly, until he has paid back even the last penny.
40. 40Blessed is the man whose soul no one will lay hold of as it journeys to God.
41. 41Whatever you honour above all will rule over you.
42. 42Honour the best, so that you may also be ruled by the best.
43. 43Being ruled by the best, you yourself will rule over whatever you choose.
44. 44The greatest honour to God is the knowledge of God and likeness to him.
45. 45Nothing is like God, but most dear to him is what is made like him as far as it can be.
46. 46The mind of a pious person is a holy temple of God. The best altar for God is a heart that is pure and without sin.
47. 47The only sacrifice to God, and an acceptable one, is doing good to human beings for God's sake.
48. 48A person who lives according to God, as far as he can, does what is pleasing to God.
49. 49God needs nothing; the faithful person needs God alone.
50. 50One who of necessity needs few things emulates the one who needs nothing.
51. 51Practise being great before God, and before human beings not envied.
52. 52Being kind to those in need, you would be great before God.
53. 53While a wise man lives, little is said of him among people; but when he has died, his fame is sung.
54. 54Whatever time you do not think of God, consider that time lost to you.
55. 55Let only your body sojourn on earth, but let your soul be always with God.
56. 56Think good things, so that you may also do good things.
57. 57A person's thought does not escape God. Let your mind be pure of all evil.
58. 58Be worthy of him who has deemed you worthy to be called his son, and do everything as a son of God.
59. 59When you call God Father, remember this in what you do.
60. 60A pure man without sin has authority before God as a son of God.
61. 61A good mind is God's dwelling place.
62. 62An evil mind is a dwelling place of evils.
63. 63By freeing the wrongdoer from wrongdoing you would punish him in accordance with God.
64. 64Practise not seeming but being righteous; for seeming takes away from each person his being.
65. 65Honour what is just for its own sake.
66. 66You would not escape God's notice doing unjust things, nor even thinking them.
67. 67A self-controlled man is pure before God.
68. 68Flee licentiousness.
69. 69Practise sound judgment.
70. 70Master pleasures.
71. 71Conquer the body in everything. From love of pleasure you will not escape licentiousness.
72. 72God does not listen to a lover of pleasure.
73. 73The end of luxury is ruin.
74. 74Let your reason lead your actions.
75. 75It is most terrible to be a slave to passions. As many passions as the soul has, so many masters.
76. 76Love of money is proof of love of the body.
77. 77Acquire the goods of the soul, as secure.
78. 78Renounce the things of the body as far as you are able.
79. 79Consider the good alone your own.
80. 80Be always such as you wish to be when you pray.
81. 81When you have, with good reason, thrown the finest of your possessions into the mire, then, being pure, ask something from God.
82. 82Be now already such as you wish to be before God. In sharing the things of the world, despise them. Remember that you stand next after God. The soul of a God-fearing person is a god in a body. One who thinks badly of God defiles God.
83. 83A blasphemous tongue is proof of an evil mind.
84. 84Have a tongue that speaks well, above all about God.
85. 85No one is able to do harm to God, but most impious is the one who blasphemes him; for had he been able, he would have done it.
86. 86The foundation of piety is self-control. The goal of piety is friendship with God.
87. 87Treat a pious person as yourself.
88. 88Pray that there may come to you not what you want but what is right and beneficial.
89. 89As you wish your neighbours to treat you, treat them too. [90] What you find fault with, do not do either.
90. 91Let no one persuade you to do anything contrary to what is better.
91. 92What God gives, no one takes away. [93] Consider before you act, and examine what you do, so that you do nothing you should not.
92. 94What you would not want God to know you are doing, do not do.
93. 95Before everything you do, think of God.
94. 96The greatest impiety toward God is ill-treating a human being.
95. 97The soul is illumined by the thought of God.
96. 98Practise self-sufficiency.
97. 99Do not crave everything.
98. 100Work hard at the causes of good things.
99. 101Do not love the things of the body.
100. 102A shameful deed makes a person unclean.
101. 103The refutation of foolish opinion purifies the soul.
102. 104God is the guide of human beings in good actions.
103. 105Consider no one an enemy.
104. 106Love what is of your own kind. Love God even before your own soul.
105. 107It is not hard for sinners to come together without sinning.
106. 108Much food hinders purity. Intemperance in food makes one unclean.
107. 109The use of all living creatures for food is indifferent, but abstaining is more rational.
108. 110It is not the foods and drinks that go in through the mouth that defile a person, but what comes out of an evil character.
109. 111Whatever food you take when overcome … defiles you.
110. 112Do not make it your aim to please the crowd.
111. 113Consider God the cause of everything you do well.
112. 114God is not the cause of evils …
113. 115Do not grasp for more of what the body seeks.
114. 116Gold does not rescue the soul from evils.
115. 117You were not born to luxuriate in God's provision.
116. 118Acquire what no one takes from you.
117. 119Bear necessities as necessities. [120] Practise greatness of soul.
118. 121Do not cling to the things for despising which you are rightly praised.
119. 122Pray to God for what is worthy of God.
120. 123Make the reason within you the law of your life.
121. 124Ask from God what you could not receive from a human being.
122. 125Pray that what toils lead to may come to you after the toils.
123. 126The prayer of a lazy person is empty talk.
124. 127Despise what you will not need once you are released from the body. [128] What you will not keep once you have acquired it, do not ask from God.
125. 129Accustom your soul, next after God, to think highly of itself.
126. 130Value nothing that a bad man can take away from you.
127. 131Consider good only what befits God.
128. 132What is worthy of God is worthy also of a good man.
129. 133What does not contribute to happiness for God does not for a human being either.
130. 134Want the things that God too would want.
131. 135A son of God is one who values only the things that God values.
132. 136As long as the body longs, the soul does not know God.
133. 137Desire for possessions is the beginning of greed.
134. 138Injustice grows from self-love.
135. 139By nature the body troubles the soul little. Love of pleasure makes the body unbearable.
136. 140Everything in excess is hostile to a human being.
137. 141Loving what you should not, you will not love what you should.
138. 142If you are eager about things that are not good, the good things will escape you.
139. 143The mind of a wise man is always with God.
140. 144God dwells in the mind of a wise man.
141. 145A wise man is known to few.
142. 146Every desire is insatiable, and therefore also always in want.
143. 147What is wise is always like itself.
144. 148Knowledge of God and likeness to him suffice for happiness.
145. 149Bad people who are flattered become worse.
146. 150Wickedness that is praised becomes unbearable.
147. 151Let your tongue follow your mind.
148. 152It is better to throw a stone at random than a word.
149. 153Consider before speaking, so that you do not say what you should not.
150. 154Words without mind are noise.
151. 155Much talk does not escape sin.
152. 156Wisdom goes with brevity of speech.
153. 157Long-windedness is a sign of ignorance.
154. 158Love the truth.
155. 159Use falsehood like poison.
156. 160Let the right moment lead your words.
157. 161Speak when it is not fitting to be silent.
158. 162About what you do not know, be silent. About what you know, speak when you must.
159. 163A word out of season is proof of an evil mind. When you ought to act, do not use words.
160. 164In an assembly do not make a point of speaking first. The knowledge of speaking and of keeping silent is the same.
161. 165It is better to be defeated speaking the truth than to prevail by deceit. One who wins by deceiving is defeated in character. False words become witnesses of evils. Great is the crisis in which a falsehood is fitting. When you would sin by speaking the truth, … then you will not sin by speaking falsehood. Deceive no one, above all one who needs counsel. By speaking with many you will see better what is beneficial.
162. 166Faith is the leader of all good actions.
163. 167Wisdom leads the soul to God.
164. 168Nothing is more akin to wisdom than truth.
165. 169The same nature cannot be both faithful and a lover of falsehood.
166. 170A cowardly and servile nature would have no share in faith.
167. 171If you are faithful, do not prefer speaking what you should to listening. When you are among the faithful, listen rather than speak.
168. 172A man who loves pleasure is useless in everything.
169. 173Unless you are blameless, do not use words about God.
170. 174The sins of the ignorant are a reproach to those who taught them.
171. 175Those through whom the name of God is reviled are dead before God.
172. 176A wise man is a benefactor next after God.
173. 177Let your life confirm your words before those who hear you.
174. 178What you should not do, do not even think of doing.
175. 179What you do not want to suffer, do not do either.
176. 180What is shameful to do is also shameful to order another to do.
177. 181Keep pure from sins even in your mind.
178. 182When you rule over people, remember that you are ruled by God.
179. 183Whoever judges a person is judged by God.
180. 184The danger is greater for the judge than for the one on trial.
181. 185Harm a person with anything rather than with a word.
182. 186It is possible to deceive a human being with a word, but impossible to deceive God.
183. 187It is not hard to have knowledge and yet be defeated in argument.
184. 188The chief cause of wrong belief is love of glory in matters of faith.
185. 189Value being faithful by being so.
186. 190Revere a wise man as a living image of God.
187. 191Even if a wise man is naked, let him seem to you to be wise.
188. 192Honour no one because he has much money.
189. 193It is hard for a rich man to be saved.
190. 194To find fault with a wise man and with God is an equal sin.
191. 195When you handle discourse about God, consider that the souls of your hearers have been given to you as a deposit.
192. 196You cannot live well unless you have believed sincerely.
193. 197Consider only what is noble good, and only what befits God noble.
194. 198Do great things without promising great things.
195. 199You will not become wise by thinking you are wise before you are.
196. 200A great crisis shows a faithful man.
197. 201Consider the goal of life to be living according to God.
198. 202Consider nothing evil that is not shameful.
199. 203The end of evil is insolence, and the end of insolence is ruin.
200. 204Passion will not rise up into the heart of a faithful person.
201. 205Every passion of the soul is hostile to reason.
202. 206Whatever you do while in the grip of passion, you will regret.
203. 207Passions are the beginnings of diseases.
204. 208Wickedness is a disease of the soul. Injustice is the death of the soul.
205. 209Consider yourself faithful only when you are freed from the passions of the soul.
206. 210Treat all people as a common benefactor of humankind. As you wish your neighbours to treat you, treat them too.
207. 211By treating people badly you will treat yourself badly.
208. 212The faithful person will do harm to no one.
209. 213Pray to be able to do good to your enemies.
210. 214A wise man seems useless to the base.
211. 215Without God you will not live well.
212. 216Endure everything for the sake of living according to God.
213. 217God does not hear the prayer of one who does not hear people in need.
214. 218A philosopher is a gift from God to a philosopher.
215. 219By honouring a philosopher you will honour yourself.
216. 220Being faithful, be so.
217. 221When someone calls you son, remember whose son he calls you.
218. 222When you call God Father, remember this in what you do.
219. 223Let your faithful words be full of much piety.
220. 224In what you do, keep God before your eyes.
221. 225It is terrible for one who confesses God as Father to do anything shameful.
222. 226One who does not love the wise man does not love himself either.
223. 227Let a philosopher consider nothing his own possession.
224. 228Where God is common to all, and that as Father, it is not pious that their possessions should not be common.
225. 229One who does not hold a philosopher in high regard is ungrateful to God.
226. 230For he grants you to refuse marriage, so that you may live as one who sits beside God. Marry and have children, knowing that each is hard; but if, knowing as you do that war is hard, you would still show courage, then marry and have children.
227. 231Every licentious man is an adulterer with his own wife.
228. 232Do nothing for the sake of mere pleasure.
229. 233Know that you are an adulterer even if you only think of committing adultery; and let the same principle hold for you concerning every sin.
230. 234By calling yourself faithful you have confessed that you will not sin against God either.
231. 235Let self-control be considered the adornment of a faithful wife.
232. 236A man who sends away his wife confesses that he is not able even to rule a wife.
233. 237A self-controlled wife is her husband's glory.
234. 238If you respect your wife, you will have a wife who respects you.
235. 239Let the marriage of the faithful be a contest of self-control.
236. 240As soon as you master your belly, you will master sexual desire too.
237. 241Beware of praise from unbelievers.
238. 242What you receive freely from God, give freely too.
239. 243You would not find a multitude of the faithful; for what is good is rare.
240. 244Honour a wise man next after God.
241. 245When you are rebuked so that you may become wise, be grateful to those who rebuke you.
242. 246One who cannot bear the wise man cannot bear the good.
243. 247If you wish to be faithful, above all do not sin; but if you do, do not commit the same sin twice.
244. 248What is not a lesson worthy of God, do not learn.
245. 249Let much learning be considered a meddlesomeness of the soul.
246. 250One who knows the things worthy of God is a wise man.
247. 251Without learning you will not be dear to God; cling to it as necessary.
248. 252A wise man is sparing of time.
249. 253Use frankness with modesty. For a wise man even sleep is a matter of self-control.
250. 254Let children who live badly grieve you more than children who are not alive.
251. 255For to live is not in our power, but to live well is in our power too.
252. 256Children who are not faithful are not children.
253. 257A faithful man bears the loss of children with thanksgiving.
254. 258Do not judge as a philosopher one whom you do not trust in everything.
255. 259Do not accept slanders against a philosopher.
256. 260Strive to be a common benefactor of humankind.
257. 261Consider even punishing someone justly a thing to pray to be spared.
258. 262If you wish to live cheerfully, do not do many things; for in busying yourself with many things you will be busy with bad things.
259. 263What you did not lay down, do not take up; for otherwise you do not live as the self-sufficient man does.
260. 264Leaving what you possess, follow right reason. You will be free from all things if you serve God.
261. 265Leave off food while you still want it.
262. 266Share your food with everyone.
263. 267It is good even to fast so that a poor man may be fed.
264. 268Let every drink be pleasant to you.
265. 269But guard against drunkenness as you would against madness.
266. 270A person overcome by his belly is like a beast.
267. 271Nothing good grows from the flesh.
268. 272Of shameful pleasure, the pleasant part quickly departs, but the reproach remains.
269. 273You may see people cutting off and throwing away their own limbs so that the rest of the body may be healthy; how much better to do so for the sake of self-control.
270. 274Consider mastering the body a great education; for acquiring money will not stop the desire for possessions.
271. 275Nothing that takes away one's freedom befits a philosopher.
272. 276Consider necessary pleasures as necessary.
273. 277All pray to have good things, but only those who genuinely share in the divine Word acquire them.
274. 278Being a philosopher, be dignified rather than fond of jesting.
275. 279Let your jesting be rare, even when it is timely.
276. 280Immoderate laughter is a sign of heedlessness. Do not allow yourself to be loosened beyond a smile.
277. 281Use seriousness more than relaxation.
278. 282Let your life be a contest for a dignified life.
279. 283Best is not to sin; but when one sins, it is better to recognize it than to be ignorant of it.
280. 284A boaster is not a philosopher.
281. 285Consider great the wisdom by which you will be able to bear the lack of education of the ignorant.
282. 286Consider it shameful, when you have reason, to be praised for your body.
283. 287The souls of the wise are insatiable for piety.
284. 288Beginning from God, do whatever you do.
285. 289Think of God more continually than you breathe.
286. 290What one must do after learning, do not attempt without learning.
287. 291Do not love the flesh.
288. 292Love a good soul, next after God.
289. 293To be able to bear the anger of one's household is the mark of a wise man.
290. 294The wealth of a philosopher is self-control.
291. 295What you will not have yourself after sharing it with others, do not judge to be good.
292. 296No good thing is unshareable. [297] Do not consider one sin smaller than another.
293. 297Consider every sin an impiety.
294. 298As you wish to be praised and honoured for your good deeds, so also bear being blamed for your sins.
295. 299Disregard the blame of those whose praise you despise.
296. 300To store up treasure is not humane, and to take it away for oneself is not the mark of a philosopher.
297. 301As much as you toil for the body, if you also toiled for the soul you would be wise.
298. 302Nothing that does harm is wise.
299. 303Call on God as witness of whatever you do.
300. 304God confirms the good actions of human beings.
301. 305An evil demon is the guide of evil actions.
302. 306You will not compel a wise man to do what he does not wish, any more than God.
303. 307A wise man commends God to human beings.
304. 308Of all his own works, God takes the greatest pride in a wise man.
305. 309Nothing, next after God, is so free as a wise man.
306. 310Whatever are God's possessions are also the wise man's.
307. 311A wise man shares in the kingdom of God.
308. 312A bad man does not want there to be a providence of God.
309. 313A bad soul flees God.
310. 314Everything base is hostile to God.
311. 315Consider that what thinks in you is the human being.
312. 316Where your thinking is, there is your good.
313. 317Do not seek good in the flesh.
314. 318What does not harm the soul does not harm the person either.
315. 319Honour a philosopher as a servant of God, next after God.
316. 320To be weighed down by the tent of your soul is arrogant; but to be able to lay it aside gently when one must is blessed.
317. 321Do not become a cause of death to yourself, but do not be indignant with one who takes you from the body.
318. 322One who takes the wise man away from the body by his own wickedness does him a good turn; for he is set free as from bonds.
319. 323Fear of death grieves a person through the soul's inexperience.
320. 324A sword that kills men: best it had never come into being; but since it has, consider that it is not yours.
321. 325No pretence escapes notice for long, especially in matters of faith.
322. 326Whatever your character is, let your life be such too. A God-fearing character makes a blessed life.
323. 327One who plans evil against another is the first to suffer evil.
324. 328Let no ungrateful person stop you from doing good.
325. 329Of whatever you give at once when asked, judge nothing worth more than the one who receives it.
326. 330You will use your wealth best by sharing it readily with those in need.
327. 331Persuade a brother who acts unfeelingly not to do so; and if he is incurable, keep watch over him.
328. 332Strive to surpass all people in kindness.
329. 333You will not have understanding until you know that you do not have it.
330. 334Practise self-sufficiency.
331. 335The members of the body are burdens to those who do not use them.
332. 336It is better to serve others than to be served by others.
333. 337Let one whom God does not release from the body not be weighed down by it.
334. 338Consider it hard not only to hold an unsociable doctrine but even to listen to one.
335. 339One who gives anything with reproach commits an outrage.
336. 340By caring for orphans you will be a father of many children, dear to God.
337. 341Whomever you serve for the sake of glory, you have served for a wage.
338. 342If you give something in order to be known for it, you have given not to a person but to your own pleasure.
339. 343Do not provoke the anger of the crowd.
340. 344Learn, then, what one must do who is to be happy.
341. 345It is better to die of hunger than to darken the soul through intemperance of the belly.
342. 346Consider your body the imprint of your soul; so keep it pure.
343. 347Whatever the soul practises while dwelling in the body, it departs for the judgment with such witnesses.
344. 348Unclean demons lay claim to an unclean soul.
345. 349Evil demons do not hinder a faithful and good soul on the way of God.
346. 350Do not share discourse about God with everyone.
347. 351It is not safe for those corrupted by opinion to hear about God.
348. 352To speak even the truth about God is no small danger.
349. 353Say nothing about God unless you have learned it from God.
350. 354To a godless person say nothing about God.
351. 355Honour true discourse about God as you honour God.
352. 356If you are not clean of unholy deeds, do not utter discourse about God.
353. 357True discourse about God is discourse of God.
354. 358Having first been convinced that you are dear to God, speak about God to those you trust.
355. 359Let your God-pleasing works go before every word about God.
356. 360Do not make a point of speaking about God before a crowd.
357. 361Be more sparing of discourse about God than of your soul.
358. 362It is better to give up your soul than to let fall a careless word about God.
359. 363You will rule the body of a man dear to God, but you will not be master of his reason. A lion too rules the body of a wise man, and so does a tyrant, but only of that.
360. 364When a tyrant threatens, then above all remember whose you are.
361. 365Let one who speaks discourse about God to those for whom it is not lawful be considered a betrayer of God.
362. 366It is better to keep silent about God than to talk rashly.
363. 367One who speaks falsehoods about God lies against God.
364. 368A person who has nothing true to say about God is bereft of God.
365. 369It is not possible to know God without worshipping him.
366. 370There is no way that one who wrongs a human being could worship God.
367. 371The foundation of godliness is love of humankind.
368. 372One who provides for people and prays for all, let him be considered truly God's.
369. 373It is God's own work to save whomever he chooses.
370. 374And it is the pious person's work to pray to God to save.
371. 375Whenever what you prayed for comes to you from God, then consider that you have authority with God.
372. 376A person worthy of God is a god among human beings. God and the son of God: the one is the best, the other nearest to the best.
373. 377It is better to be without possessions than to have many possessions and not share them.
374. 378If you do not give to those in need when you are able, you will not receive from God when you are in need.
375. 379When one shares food with someone in need with his whole soul, the gift is something small, but the eagerness is great before God.
376. 380One who acknowledges God but thinks that nothing concerns him is no better than an atheist.
377. 381One honours God best who has made his own mind like God as far as he can.
378. 382God needs nothing at all, but he rejoices in those who share with the needy.
379. 383Let the words of the faithful be few, but their works many.
380. 384A faithful person who loves learning is a worker of truth.
381. 385Adapt yourself to circumstances, so that you may be cheerful.
382. 386If you wrong no one, you will fear no one.
383. 387A tyrant does not take away happiness.
384. 388What you must do, do willingly.
385. 389What you must not do, do in no way. Promise anything rather than that you are wise.
386. 390Refer to God the cause of what you do well.
387. 391No wise man looks downward to the earth and to tables.
388. 392It is not his money-making that a philosopher must set free, but his soul.
389. 393Guard against lying; for it is both to deceive and to be deceived.
390. 394Know who God is; learn what it is in you that thinks.
391. 395A good person is a fine work of God.
392. 396Wretched are those through whom the word is ill spoken of.
393. 397Death does not destroy the soul, but a bad life does.
394. 398If you know what you were born for, you will know yourself.
395. 399It is not possible to live according to God without acting with self-control, nobly, and justly.
396. 400The life of unbelieving people is a disgrace.
397. 401Never let yourself share the word of God with an ignoble nature without noticing it.
398. 402Faith lifts the soul from earth to God.
399. 403You would not find out the greatness of a wise man's soul any more than that of God.
400. 404Whatever God gives, no one takes away.
401. 405What the world provides, it does not keep securely.
402. 406The knowledge of God is divine wisdom.
403. 407Do not dare to speak about God to an impure soul.
404. 408Make trial of a man by his deeds before his words.
405. 409Do not trust your ears to everyone.
406. 410To form opinions about God is easy, but to speak the truth is granted only to the just.
407. 411Do not torment your body with your soul, nor torment your soul with the pleasures of the body.
408. 412Accustom yourself to give the body the things of the body with self-control, and the soul its things with godliness.
409. 413Nourish your soul with divine reason and your body with plain food.
410. 414Accustom your soul to rejoice in what it is good to rejoice in.
411. 415A soul that rejoices in small things is without honour before God. The soul of a wise man hears God.
412. 416The soul of a wise man is attuned to God by God.
413. 417The soul of a wise man always sees God.
414. 418The soul of a wise man is always with God.
415. 419The heart of one dear to God is set in God's hand.
416. 420The soul's ascent to God is through the word of God.
417. 421The wise man follows God, and God follows the soul of the wise man.
418. 422What rules rejoices in what it rules, and God rejoices in the wise man.
419. 423What rules is inseparable from what it rules; God therefore provides for the wise man and cares for him.
420. 424A wise man is under God's guardianship, and for this reason he is also blessed.
421. 425The soul of a wise man is tested by God through the body.
422. 426It is not the wise man's tongue that is precious before God, but his understanding.
423. 427A wise man honours God even when he is silent, knowing why he is silent.
424. 428No one who does not master the belly and what is below the belly is faithful.
425. 429An intemperate person defiles God.
426. 430Knowledge of God makes a person sparing of words.
427. 431Inexperience produces many words about God.
428. 432A person who knows God does not boast much.
429. 433An elect person does everything according to God, but does not profess to be elect.
430. 435A person who fills himself with food twice a day and never sleeps alone at night does not escape sexual intercourse.
431. 436Fate does not make a person faithful. Fate does not rule God's grace; otherwise it would rule God too.
432. 438A faithful man is nourished by self-control.
433. 439Know the words and the works of God, and honour God as he deserves.
434. 441A faithful soul is pure and wise and a prophetess of God's truth.
435. 442You will not love the Lord God unless you have in yourself what God wills.
436. 443Consider that like is dear to like.
437. 444If you do not love God, you will not be with God.
438. 445Accustom yourself always to look toward God.
439. 446Seeing God, you will see yourself.
440. 447Seeing God, you will make what thinks in you such as God is.
441. 448Revere what is in you, and do not outrage it with the desires of the body.
442. 449Keep your body unstained, as the garment of your soul from God, just as you keep your tunic unstained, since it is the garment of the flesh.
443. 450The mind of a wise man is a mirror of God.
444. 451Do not dare to speak about God to a licentious soul.