Friend, I ask only this of you before the sun sets: when your mind wanders into anger or greed, turn back to those names at once. Do not let a moment of distraction make you forget what you promised yourself in the quiet hours of yesterday. The slip is easy, but the return must be swift and without shame, for the path is open as long as you walk it.

Consider the man who fights beasts in an arena, covered in wounds yet begging to fight again tomorrow. That is the fool who loves his life too much to leave it behind when duty calls. You need not seek such glory; you only need to live plainly now. When temptation pulls you toward vanity or pain, remember that nature appoints us to reason, not to crave applause. Be ready to depart this station if the cost becomes too high for your soul, but do so with calm will, never in a storm of passion.