Sentences of Sextus

Contents

1. 1A faithful man is a chosen man.
2. 2A chosen man is a man of God.
3. 3A man of God is he who is worthy of God.
4. 4He is worthy of God who does what is worthy of God.
5. 5Striving to be faithful, do nothing that is unworthy of God.
6. 6One who doubts in faith is unfaithful.
7. 7An unfaithful man is dead in a living body.
8. 8He is truly faithful who does not sin.
9. 9Act carefully even in the least things.
10. 10It is no small thing in a man's life to neglect the small things.
11. 11Consider every sin to be impiety.
12. 12It is not the hand or the eye or any such member that sins, but the evil use of the hand or the eye.
13. 13Every member of the body that urges you to act against chastity is to be cast away; for it is better to live without one member than to be punished with it.
14. 14Believe that both the honours and the punishments in the judgment remain immortal for you.
15. 15Whatever of this world you have, even if someone takes it from you, do not be indignant.
16. 16Do not show yourself blameworthy to the world.
17. 17Yield everything to one who takes it from you, except your freedom.
18. 18A wise man who despises money is like God.
19. 19Use the things of this world only for necessary purposes.
20. 20The things of the world to the world, and the things of God to God.
21. 21Be sure that you have received your soul from God as a faithful deposit.
22. 22When you speak about God, know that you are judged by God.
23. 23Consider it the best purification to harm no one.
24. 24The soul is purified in the word of God through wisdom.
25. 25Never think that the substance of God is without feeling.
26. 26God is like a mind that moves of itself; and in this way he also subsists.
27. 27You will not find the greatness of God, even if you could fly with wings.
28. 28Do not seek the name of God, for you will not find it, because …
29. 29Seek, then, nothing in God that is not permitted.
30. 30God is wise light, incapable of its contrary.
31. 31Whatever God has made, he made for the sake of men.
32. 32An angel is God's minister to man; for he does not minister to no one: so precious is man with God.
33. 33God is the first benefactor; second is the man who becomes a partaker of his kindness.
34. 34Live, then, as one who is second after God and chosen by him.
35. 35You have in you something like God; therefore use yourself as a temple of God, because of that in you which is like God.
36. 36God has without doubt granted men the freedom of their own choice, so that, living purely and without sin, they may become like God.
37. 37Let the world revere your life.
38. 38Admit nothing that would brand a mark on you.
39. 39When those who live wickedly have gone out of the body, an evil demon will torment them until he exacts from them even the last [penny].
40. 40Blessed is the man whose soul no one reproaches as it goes on its way to God.
41. 41Whatever you honour above all things will rule over you.
42. 42Honour God, then, above all things, so that he himself may rule over you.
43. 43But if God has dominion over you, then at last you will have dominion over all things.
44. 44The highest honour to God is to know him and to imitate him.
45. 45Nothing indeed is like God in all respects; yet imitation by an inferior, as far as is possible, is pleasing to him.
46. 46The mind of the pious man is a holy temple for God, and a pure heart without sin is the best altar for him.
47. 47The only sacrifice to God, and an acceptable one, is to do good to men for God's sake.
48. 48A man renders thanks to God who, as far as is possible, lives according to God.
49. 49God needs nothing; but the faithful man needs God alone.
50. 50He who needs few things, and those necessary, imitates the one who needs nothing.
51. 51Strive enough to be great before God, but before men to escape envy.
52. 52If you are kind to the needy, you will be great before God.
53. 53A wise man: while he lives, his reputation among men is small; but when he has died, his glory is proclaimed.
54. 54Count every hour in which you do not think of God as lost to you.
55. 55Let your body walk on the earth, but let your soul always be with God.
56. 56Understand what things are good, so that you may do good.
57. 57A man's thought does not escape God; therefore let your thought be pure from all evil.
58. 58Be worthy of him who has deigned to call you son, and do all things as a son of God.
59. 59You who call God Father, remember this in your actions.
60. 60A chaste man without sin will receive from God power to be a son of God.
61. 61A good mind is a choir of God.
62. 62An evil mind is a choir of evil demons.
63. 63If you restrain an unjust man from acting unjustly, this is to punish according to God.
64. 64Strive not to seem righteous, but to be righteous; for it is certain that he who wants to seem is not truly so.
65. 65Honour what is just for this very reason, that it is just.
66. 66You will never escape God's notice when you act unjustly, nor even when you think it.
67. 67A wise man will be chaste for God.
68. 68Flee all filthiness.
69. 69Be eager always to speak of good things.
70. 70Conquer lust.
71. 71Restrain the body in all things, for from luxuries and pleasures you will not escape filthiness.
72. 72God does not hear the lover of pleasure.
73. 73The end of luxuries is corruption.
74. 74Let word, or reason, go before your actions.
75. 75It is ruinous to be a slave to vices: as many vices as the soul has, so many masters too.
76. 76Love of money shows love of the things of the flesh.
77. 77Acquire a firm possession for the soul: virtue.
78. 78Renounce the things of the body while you still can and as far as you can.
79. 79Call only that your own which is good.
80. 80Such as you wish to be when you pray to God, be always such.
81. 81When you have cast away all the best things as plunder, then, as one purified, ask of God what you wish.
82. 82Such as you wish to be before God, be such now already, when you distribute the things of the world; and despise them, as one who knows that you are next after God.
83. 83An evil-speaking tongue is the sign of an evil mind.
84. 84Accustom your tongue to speak well, and above all when the talk is about God.
85. 85No one, indeed, can do evil to God; but he who blasphemes is impious, for he has done the only thing he could.
86. 86The foundation of piety is self-control, and the summit of piety is friendship with God.
87. 87Hold the pious man as yourself.
88. 88Wish that not what you want may happen to you, but what is expedient.
89. 89Such as you wish your neighbour to be to you, be such yourself to your neighbours.
90. 90Do not do what you blame.
91. 91Agree with no one who urges you to ask for what is not good.
92. 92What God gives you no one can take away.
93. 93Deliberate before you act, and before you act examine what kind of thing it is that you are about to do.
94. 94If there is anything you do not want God to know, neither do it nor think it.
95. 95Before you do whatever you do, think of God, so that his light may go before your actions.
96. 96To afflict a man is great impiety against God.
97. 97The soul is enlightened by the remembrance of God.
98. 98Be eager to be content with moderate things.
99. 99Do not desire everything.
100. 100Seek out opportunities for good things, even with toil.
101. 101Do not love the things that belong to the body.
102. 102A shameful act makes a man unclean.
103. 103The soul of the foolish man is purged when his inner hidden thought is rebuked.
104. 104God is the guide of men in good actions.
105. 105Consider no one an enemy.
106. 106Love everyone who is of the same nature as you; but love God even more than your soul.
107. 107It is very evil for sinners to come together in one when they sin.
108. 108Much food hinders chastity, and lack of self-control in food makes a man unclean.
109. 109The use of all living things for food is indifferent, but abstaining is more reasonable.
110. 110It is not the foods that are taken in through the mouth that defile a man, but the things that come forth from evil actions.
111. 111Whatever you take, overcome by desire, defiles you.
112. 112Do not strive to please the multitude.
113. 113In every good thing you do, consider God the author.
114. 114God is the author of no evil.
115. 115Do not possess more than the use of the body requires.
116. 116Gold does not rescue the soul from evils.
117. 117It is certain that one who is set among the luxuries of the body does not know the things prepared by God.
118. 118Possess those things which no one can take away from you.
119. 119Bear what is necessary as it is necessary.
120. 120Be eager to be great-souled.
121. 121Do not keep those things for which you would rightly be praised if you despised them; obtain those in which you will reasonably be magnificent.
122. 122Ask from God those things which it is worthy for God to grant.
123. 123Let the reason that is in you be itself the law of your life.
124. 124Ask from God those things which …
125. 125Wish that those things for which toil must come first may come to you after the toil.
126. 126The prayers or vows of a lazy man are empty words.
127. 127The things which we need even after laying aside the body ought not to be despised.
128. 128Do not ask of God that which, when you have it, you will not keep for ever.
129. 129Accustom your soul to think something great of itself, next after God.
130. 130Count nothing precious that a wicked man can take away from you.
131. 131Consider that alone good which is worthy of God.
132. 132What is worthy of God is also worthy of a good man.
133. 133Whatever does not fit the blessedness of God, let it not fit the man of God either.
134. 134You ought to will the things that God also wills.
135. 135He is a son of God who counts precious only those things which God also counts precious.
136. 136As long as the flesh is in its desires, the soul does not know God.
137. 137The desire of possessing is the origin of avarice.
138. 138When someone loves himself more, injustice is born from that.
139. 139By nature the body is little troublesome to the soul, but luxury makes the body unbearable.
140. 140Everything that a man has beyond what is necessary is his enemy.
141. 141He who loves what is not expedient will not love what is expedient.
142. 142To one who is devoted to things that are not good, the things that are good will remain hidden.
143. 143A wise man is known by few words.
144. 144The mind of the wise man is always with God.
145. 145God dwells in the mind of the wise man.
146. 146Every desire is insatiable, and therefore always in need.
147. 147The wise man is always like himself.
148. 148The knowledge and imitation of God alone suffice for blessedness.
149. 149He who flatters the wicked makes them worse.
150. 150Wickedness becomes unbearable when it is praised.
151. 151Let your tongue follow your understanding.
152. 152It is better to throw a stone at random than to utter an idle word about God.
153. 153Deliberate before you speak, so that you may not say what is not expedient.
154. 154Words without understanding are a disgrace.
155. 155Talkativeness will not escape sin.
156. 156The wise man will be brief in his speech.
157. 157A long tale is a sign of ignorance.
158. 158Love the truth.
159. 159Use falsehood as you would poison.
160. 160Before all things, seek the right time for your words.
161. 161Speak then, when it is not expedient to be silent.
162. 162About what you do not know, be silent; but about what you are sure of, speak at the right time.
163. 163Speech out of season is the sign of a malicious mind.
164. 164In an assembly do not strive to be the first to speak.
165. 165It is better to be defeated when speaking the truth than to win by lying.
166. 166Let faith go before all your actions.
167. 167Wisdom leads the soul to God.
168. 168Nothing is so native to wisdom as truth.
169. 169A soul that loves falsehood can never be made good.
170. 170Faith is foreign to a crooked and very evil disposition.
171. 171A faithful man loves to hear what he ought more than to say what he ought not.
172. 172A lustful man is useless for everything.
173. 173The blameless man, then, uses words about God.
174. 174The sins of the learners are the disgrace of the teachers.
175. 175They are dead before God through whom the name of God is cursed.
176. 176A wise man is a benefactor, next after God.
177. 177Let your words guard the life of your hearers.
178. 178What ought not to be done, do not even come under suspicion of doing.
179. 179What you do not want to suffer, do not do either.
180. 180What is shameful for you to do, it is most shameful to command another to do.
181. 181Be clean of sins even in your thoughts.
182. 182When you are set over men, remember that God is also set over you.
183. 183And when you judge men, know that you yourself are also judged by God.
184. 184The danger of the one who judges is greater than that of the one who is judged.
185. 185Every wound is lighter than the wound of the tongue.
186. 186It is possible to deceive a man with a word, but not God.
187. 187Do not think it an evil if, while you know the truth, you are defeated in argument.
188. 188The love of boasting makes one think ill of the faith.
189. 189Strive to be faithful rather than to seem so.
190. 190Revere a wise man as the image of the living God.
191. 191A wise man, even if he is naked, should be held wise by you.
192. 192Honour no one because he has much money.
193. 193It is hard for a rich man to be saved.
194. 194To disparage a wise man and to disparage God are equal.
195. 195When you speak a word about God, consider that you have received from God the souls of your hearers as a deposit.
196. 196Do not think that one who does not believe wholeheartedly lives well.
197. 197Consider that you say only what is good.
198. 198Do great things without promising great things.
199. 199You will never be wise if you think yourself wise before you are.
200. 200In great tribulations it is shown who is faithful.
201. 201Consider the end of life to be living according to God.
202. 202Think nothing evil that is not also shameful.
203. 203The end of evil is injury, and the end of injury is destruction.
204. 204Passion does not rise into the heart of a faithful man.
205. 205Every passion of the soul is the enemy of its reason.
206. 206Whatever you do while the soul is in passion, you will regret.
207. 207Passions are the beginnings of diseases.
208. 208Wickedness is the disease of the soul, and injustice and impiety are the death of the soul.
209. 209Do not consider yourself faithful until you are free of the passions of the soul.
210. 210Treat all men as if you were the common provider of all, next after God.
211. 211He who treats men badly treats himself badly.
212. 212He who is faithful wishes no evil.
213. 213Pray that you may be able to do good to your enemies.
214. 214To wicked men a wise man seems foolish.
215. 215Without God you cannot live for God.
216. 216Bear all things for the sake of living according to God.
217. 217God does not hear the prayer of a man who does not hear the needy.
218. 218A wise man is a gift from God to a wise man.
219. 219In honouring a wise man you will honour yourself.
220. 220Know that you are faithful.
221. 221When someone calls you a son of God, remember whose son he calls you.
222. 222Calling upon God as Father, remember this in your actions.
223. 223Let your words always be full of piety.
224. 224In your actions set God before your eyes.
225. 225It is a sin to call upon God as Father and to do anything dishonourable.
226. 226He who does not love the wise man does not love himself either.
227. 227Let nothing be considered the philosopher's own possession.
228. 228Those whose God is common and the same Father are impious unless their possessions too are common.
229. 229He is ungrateful to God who does not esteem the philosopher highly.
230. 230You are permitted to refuse marriage, so that you may live cleaving to God without ceasing. Know that marrying and begetting children are both very hard; but if, knowing it to be very hard, like a battle, you nevertheless do not wish to fight, then marry a wife and beget children.
231. 231Every unchaste man is an adulterer even with his own wife.
232. 232Do nothing for the sake of lust alone.
233. 233Know that you are an adulterer even if you have thought of adultery; and let the same reckoning hold for you about every sin.
234. 234Having professed yourself faithful, you have promised at the same time not to sin against God.
235. 235Let chastity be counted the adornment of a faithful woman.
236. 236A man who puts away his wife declares that he cannot even govern a woman.
237. 237A chaste woman is the glory of her husband.
238. 238If you show reverence to your wife, you have her reverent.
239. 239Let the marriage of the faithful be a contest of self-control.
240. 240As you restrain the belly, so also the sexual impulses.
241. 241Avoid the praises of the unfaithful.
242. 242What you receive freely from God, give freely.
243. 243You will not find a multitude of the faithful, for everything that is good is rare.
244. 244Honour the wise man, next after God.
245. 245When you are rebuked so that you may become wise, be grateful to those who rebuke you.
246. 246He who does not obey a wise man does not obey God either.
247. 247If you want to be faithful, strive above all not to sin; and if it should perhaps happen, at least let the same thing not be repeated.
248. 248Do not learn a teaching that is not worthy of God.
249. 249To want to know many things is to be considered curiosity of the soul.
250. 250He who knows what is worthy of God is wise.
251. 251The teaching by which you can advance in the love of God, seek that above all, and as a necessity.
252. 252A wise man is sparing, so as not to lose time.
253. 253Have confidence with modesty.
254. 254… your children living wickedly, more than dying.
255. 255To live is not in our power, but to live rightly is in our power.
256. 256Unfaithful children are not children.
257. 257A faithful man does not take ungratefully the rejection of … .
258. 258Do not judge him to be a philosopher whom you do not trust about everything.
259. 259Do not accept accusations against a philosopher.
260. 260Strive to do good to every man alike.
261. 261Let it be abhorrent to you to punish anything, even justly.
262. 262If you wish to live with gladness of soul, do not do many things; for in many actions you are harmed.
263. 263Do not take up what you did not lay down, but let your own things suffice you.
264. 264Leaving what you possess, follow the word of God; for you will be free from all things when you serve God.
265. 265Cease.
266. 266Share with every man.
267. 267To fast for the sake of refreshing a poor man is also good.
268. 268Let every drink be pleasant to you.
269. 269Flee drunkenness as madness.
270. 270A man who is conquered by his belly is like a beast.
271. 271Nothing good arises from the flesh.
272. 272The pleasures of the most shameful lust pass quickly, but the disgraces remain for ever.
273. 273Men are accustomed to cut off some of their members for the health of the rest; how much better to do it for …
274. 274Consider it a great punishment when you have obtained your desires; for the possession of what is desired never quiets desire.
275. 275An act in which freedom is taken away is not wise.
276. 276Treat necessary desire as necessary.
277. 277All men wish to have good things, but they obtain them who have given themselves over entirely to the word of God from within.
278. 278Be, as a philosopher, honourable and not a detractor.
279. 279Let your criticism be rare and timely.
280. 280Excessive laughter is the sign of a careless soul; do not, then, allow yourself to break out further than a smile.
281. 281Use eagerness rather than slackness.
282. 282Let the life of the chaste be for you an example of honour.
283. 283It is best not to sin; but for one who sins, it is better to acknowledge it than to be unaware of it.
284. 284A boaster is not a philosopher.
285. 285Know that it is great wisdom by which you can bear the ignorance of the uneducated.
286. 286Consider it shameful to be praised by your own mouth.
287. 287The souls of the wise are insatiable in the love of God.
288. 288Take your beginning from God in doing whatever you do.
289. 289Have God in your mind more often than you breathe.
290. 290The things which you ought to learn and so do, do not try to do … .
291. 291Do not love the flesh.
292. 292Love a good soul, next after God.
293. 293It belongs to the wise man to bear the indignation of those of his household.
294. 294The riches of the wise are self-control.
295. 295If you have handed over something of your own to another and no longer have it yourself, do not judge it good.
296. 296Nothing is good that cannot be common.
297. 297Do not consider one sin lighter than another.
298. 298As you wish to be praised in good actions, so in faults accept it patiently if you are blamed.
299. 299Those whose praises you despise, do not value their disparagement highly either.
300. 300To bury a treasure is inhumane, but to carry off a treasure found is not the part of a philosopher.
301. 301If you labour as much for the soul as you labour for the body, you will be wise.
302. 302He who does harm is not wise.
303. 303In all that you do, call upon God as witness.
304. 304God confirms the good actions of men.
305. 305An evil demon is the guide of evil actions.
306. 306The wise man cannot be compelled to do what he does not want, any more than God can.
307. 307A wise man commends God to men.
308. 308Among all his works God glories most over the wise man.
309. 309Nothing is so true after God as the wise man, after the truth.
310. 310A wise man is a partaker of the kingdom of God.
311. 311Whatever God possesses, the wise man possesses too.
312. 312An evil man does not want there to be providence.
313. 313An evil soul flees from God.
314. 314Everything that is evil is hostile to God.
315. 315Consider that which is wise in you to be the man.
316. 316Where that which is wise in you is, there also is your good.
317. 317Do not seek the good in the flesh.
318. 318What does not harm the soul does not harm the man either.
319. 319Honour a philosopher as a minister of God, next after God.
320. 320To bear the tabernacle of the body with difficulty is proud; but to be able to lay it down in peace when one must is blessed.
321. 321Do not yourself become the cause of your death; but if someone wants to strip you of the body, do not be indignant.
322. 322If someone unjustly drives a wise man out of the body, in his wickedness he does him a kindness, for he is released as from bonds.
323. 323Fear of death saddens a man because of the ignorance of the soul.
324. 324It would have been best for the iron by which men are killed not to have been made; but, since it has been made, let it be as not made with you.
325. 325No pretence will remain hidden for long, and above all in faith.
326. 326As your character is, so let your life be; for religious character makes a blessed life.
327. 327He who devises evils against another, anticipating …
328. 328Let not an ungrateful man hinder you from doing good.
329. 329Count nothing that is asked for worth more than the one who receives it.
330. 330He uses his means best who gives gladly to the needy.
331. 331Persuade a brother who wants to depart from the faith not to do it; and if he is incurable, guard yourself the more.
332. 332Try to surpass all men in faith.
333. 333You will not have understanding until you understand that you do not have it.
334. 334Strive to keep to sufficiency.
335. 335The members of the body are a burden to those who do not use them.
336. 336It is better to serve others than to be served by others.
337. 337Let him whom God does not send out of the body not take it hard.
338. 338Flee not only from holding, but even from hearing, an opinion that forbids mercy.
339. 339He who gives something and reckons it up has given an insult rather than a kindness.
340. 340He who protects orphans will be the father of many children according to God.
341. 341Whatever you do for the sake of glory, that will be the reward of your deed.
342. 342If you give anything in such a way that it becomes known to men, you have given it not to a man but to your own desire.
343. 343Do not provoke the anger of the multitude against you.
344. 344Learn what ought to be done, so that you may become blessed.
345. 345It is better to die of hunger than to stain the soul through lack of self-control in the belly.
346. 346Consider your body to be the garment of the soul; keep it, therefore, clean.
347. 347According to the pursuits the soul followed while dwelling in the body, such witnesses will it have at the judgment.
348. 348Unclean demons claim an unclean soul for themselves.
349. 349Evil demons do not hinder a faithful and good soul on the way of God.
350. 350Do not entrust a word about God to every man.
351. 351It is not safe for men corrupted by the boasting of vainglory to hear about God.
352. 352To speak about God, even things that are true, is a danger, and not a small one.
353. 353Say nothing about God that you have not learned from God.
354. 354To one who does not believe that God exists, say nothing about God.
355. 355Honour a true word as God.
356. 356If you are not free from shameful deeds, do not discuss God.
357. 357A true word about God is a word of God.
358. 358If you know that those who hear you accept from you that you love God, then speak to them about God.
359. 359Let works of the love of God go before you, and then speak about God.
360. 360Do not dare to speak about God before a crowd.
361. 361Utter a word about God more sparingly than about the soul.
362. 362It is better to lose your soul than to utter an idle word about God.
363. 363A lion and a tyrant alike have power over the body of a man who loves God.
364. 364When a tyrant threatens you, then above all remember whose you are.
365. 365He who speaks a word about God to those to whom it is not permitted is to be considered a betrayer of God.
366. 366It is better to keep silent a word about God than to utter it rashly.
367. 367He who says about God things that are not so speaks falsehood against God.
368. 368A man who has nothing to say about God is truly forsaken by God.
369. 369He who does not worship God has not known God.
370. 370It is not true that one who harms a man worships God.
371. 371The foundation and beginning of the worship of God is to love.
372. 372He who cares for men and prays to God for them is truly to be considered to be from God.
373. 373It is proper to God to save those whom he judges worthy.
374. 374It is the part of a worshipper of God to pray to God for the salvation of men.
375. 375When what you asked of God has been granted to you as you prayed, then understand that power has been granted you by God.
376. 376A man worthy of God is a god among men.
377. 377It is better to have nothing than, having much, to share with no one.
378. 378If you do not give to the needy when you can, you do not receive from God when you ask.
379. 379He who gives food to the needy from the heart gives little indeed, but a great reward of good will shall be his.
380. 380He who thinks that God exists and that nothing is cared for by him differs in nothing from one who does not believe that God exists.
381. 381He honours God best who makes his mind, as far as possible, like God.
382. 382God indeed needs nothing, but he rejoices over those who give to the needy.
383. 383Let the words of the faithful be few, but their works many.
384. 384A faithful man who gladly lets himself be taught becomes a worker of the truth.
385. 385Prepare and fit yourself for tribulations, and you will be glad.
386. 386Harming no one, you will fear no one.
387. 387A tyrant will not take away blessedness.
388. 388What must be done, do willingly.
389. 389What ought not to be done, do in no way.
390. 390Refer every cause rather to God.
391. 391No one is wise who looks down at the earth and at tables.
392. 392Let the philosopher's freedom be not in name but in the soul.
393. 393To lie in life is to deceive and to be deceived.
394. 394Recognize what God is, and what it is in you that recognizes God.
395. 395A good man is a good work of God.
396. 396They are without God through whom the word of God is cursed.
397. 397Death does not destroy the soul, but an evil life does.
398. 398If you know by whom you were made, you know yourself too.
399. 399To live according to God is nothing other than to act chastely, well, and justly.
400. 400The life of unfaithful men is a disgrace.
401. 401Let it not escape you, and do not entrust the words of God to an evil disposition.
402. 402Faith lifts the soul from the earth to God.
403. 403You will not find the greatness of the wise man's soul, just as you will not find that of God.
404. 404Whatever the world gives, no one holds firmly.
405. 405Whatever God gives, no one can take away.
406. 406Divine wisdom is knowledge.
407. 407Do not dare to speak to an unclean soul of the experience of God.
408. 408Test a man first in his works, and so in his words.
409. 409Do not entrust your affairs to everyone.
410. 410To hold opinions about God is easy for everyone, but to speak the truth about God is to be permitted to the righteous man alone.
411. 411Let not your soul torment your body, nor the lust of the body torment your soul.
412. 412Accustom yourself to give the body what is its own chastely, and the soul what is its own piously.
413. 413Feed your soul with the word of God, but your body with simple foods.
414. 414Accustom your soul to rejoice in those things in which it rightly rejoices.
415. 415A soul that is greedy in worthless things is unworthy before God.
416. 416The soul of the wise man is fitted to God by God.
417. 417The soul of the wise man always looks upon God.
418. 418The soul of the wise man is always with God.
419. 419The heart of one who loves God is established in the hand of God.
420. 420The soul's ascent to God is through the word of God.
421. 421The wise man follows God, and God follows the soul of the wise man.
422. 422A king rejoices over those he rules; so God too rejoices over the wise man.
423. 423He who rules is inseparable from those he rules; so too God is inseparable from the soul of the wise man, whom he protects and rules.
424. 424The wise man is governed by God, and therefore he is blessed.
425. 425The soul of the wise man is tested by God through the body.
426. 426It is not the tongue of the wise man that is approved before God, but his mind.
427. 427A wise man honours God even when he is silent.
428. 428He who does not restrain his belly and what is below it is not faithful.
429. 429An incontinent man defiles God.
430. 430The knowledge of God makes a man use few words.
431. 431Ignorance of God makes one use many words about God.
432. 432A man who knows God does not use much ambition.
433. 433He who is chosen by God does all things according to God, but does not boast that he is chosen.
434. 434A faithful man is always in fear until he goes to God.
435. 435A man who is sated with food again and does not sleep at night does not escape sexual intercourse, and is not even worthy before God.
436. 436Fate does not make the wise man; for the grace of God is not subject to fate; otherwise God too …
437. 437A faithful man takes the lusts of the body hard.
438. 438A faithful man is fed by self-control.
439. 439Recognize who are the sons of God among his creatures, and honour each one according to his merit, next after God.
440. 440Count nothing that is evil as belonging to God.
441. 441A faithful soul, chaste and wise, is a prophet of the truth of God.
442. 442You will not love God if you do not have in you something like God.
443. 443Consider a friend to be like to like.
444. 444As long as you do not love God, you will not go to God.
445. 445Accustom yourself always to look toward God.
446. 446By gazing on God you will see him.
447. 447Seeing God, you will make your mind such as God is.
448. 448Cultivate what is within you, and do not insult it through the lust of the body.
449. 449Keep your body undefiled, as if you had received it from God as a garment, just as you strive to keep the clothing of your body spotless.
450. 450The mind of the wise man is a mirror of God.
451. 451But to a soul that is not pure dare to say nothing about …