2. Weep not therefore at the calamities of the human state; rather laugh at its follies. In the hands of the man addicted to vanity, life then is but the shadow of a dream.
3. The hero, the most renowned of human character, what is he, but the bubble of this weakness. The public is unstable and ungrateful. Why should the man of wisdom endanger himself for fools?
4. The man who neglecteth his present concerns, to revolve how he will behave when greater, feedeth himself with wind, while his bread is eaten by another.
5. Act as becometh thee in thy present station, and in more exalted ones thy face shall not be ashamed.
6. What blindeth the eye, or what hideth the heart of a man from himself, like Vanity? Lo, when thou seest not thyself, then others discover thee, most plainly.
7. As the tulip that is gaudy without smell, conspicuous without use; so is the mail who sitteth himself up so high, and hot not merit.
8. The heart of the vain is troubled while it seemeth content; his cares are greater than his pleasures.
9. His solicitude cannot rest with his bones, the grave is not deep enough to hide it; he extendeth his thoughts beyond his being; he bespeaketh praise; to be paid when he is gone; but whosoever promiseth it, deceiveth him.
10. As the man who engageth his wife to remain in widowhood, that she disturb not his soul; so is he who expecteth that his praise shall reach his ears beneath the earth, or cherish his heart in its shroud.
11. Do well whilst thou liveth; but regard not what is said of it. Content thyself with deserving praise, and thy posterity shall rejoice in hearing it.
12. As the butterfly who seeth not his own colors, as the jasmine which feeleth not the scent it casteth around it; so is the man who appeareth gay, and biddeth others to take note of it.
13. "To what purpose," saith he, "is my vesture of gold, to what end are my tables filled with dainties, if no eye gaze upon them, if the world knows it not?" Give thy raiment to the naked, and thy food unto the hungry; so shalt thou be praised, and feel that thou deserveth it.
14. Why bestoweth thou in every man the flattery of unmeaning words? Thou knowest, when returned thee, thou regardest it not. He knoweth he lieth unto thee, yet he knoweth thou will thank him for it. Speak in sincerity, and thou wilt hear with instruction.
15. The vain delighteth to speak of himself; but he seeth not that others like not to hear him.
16. If he hath done anything worth praise, if he possesseth that which is worthy of admiration, his joy is to proclaim it, his pride to hear it reported. The desire of such a man defeateth itself. Men say not: "Behold he hath done it," or "See, he possesseth it," but "Mark how proud he is of it."
17. The heart of man cannot attend at once to too many things. He who fixeth his soul on show, loseth reality. He pursueth bubbles, which break in their flight, while he treads to earth what would him honor.