BOOK V
27. Walk with the Gods! And he does walk with the Gods, who lets them see his soul invariably satisfied with its lot and carrying out the will of that 'genius,' a particle[1] of himself, which Zeus has given to every man as his captain and guide[2]—and this is none other than each man's intelligence and reason.
28. If a man's armpits are unpleasant, art thou angry with him? If he has foul breath? What would be the use? The man has such a mouth, he has such armpits. Some such effluvium was bound to come from such a source. But the man has sense, quotha! With a little attention he could see wherein he offends. I congratulate thee! Well, thou too hast sense. By a rational attitude, then, in thyself evoke a rational attitude in him,[3] enlighten him, admonish him. If he listen, thou shalt cure him,[4] and have no need of anger.
Neither tragedian nor harlot.
29. Thou canst live on earth as thou dost purpose to live when departed. But if men will not have it so, then is it time for thee even to go out of life,[5] yet not as one who is treated ill. 'Tis smoky and I go away.[6] Why think it a great matter? But while no such cause drives me forth, I remain a free man, and none shall prevent me from doing what I will, and I will what is in accordance with the nature of a rational and social creature.
30. The intelligence of the Universe is social. It hath at any rate made the lower things for the sake of the higher, and it adapted the higher[7] to one another. Thou seest how it hath subordinated, coordinated, and given each its due lot
