[Greek: Prêsse de mêden tôn mê pistasai; alla didaskeu
Ossa chreôn, kai terpnotaton bion hôde diazeis.
Oud' hygieiês tês peri sôm' ameleian echein chrê.
Alla potou te metron, kai sitou, gymnasiôn te
Poieisthai. metron de legô to d', d mê s' aniêsei.
Eithizou de diaitan echein kathareion, athrupton.
Kai pephylazo ge tauta poiein, hoposa phthonon ischei
Mê dapanan para kairon, hopoia kalôn adaêmôn.
Mê d' aneleutheros isthi; metron d' epi pasin ariston.
Prêsse de tauth', ha se mê blapsê; logisai de pro ergou.
TELEAOTÊS].[1]
[Greek: Mêd' hypnon malakoisin ep' ommasi prosdexasthai,
Prin tôn hêmerinôn ergôn tris hekaston epelthein;
Pê parebên? ti d'erexa? ti moi deon ouk etelesthê?
Arxamenos d' apo prôtou epexithi; kai metepeita
Deina men ekprêxas epiplêsseo; chrêsta de, terpou.
Tauta ponei; taut' ekmeleta; toutôn chrê eran se.
Tauta se tês theiês aretês eis ichnia thêsei.]
That which thou dost not know, pretend not that thou dost.
Instruct thyself: for time and patience favour all (17).
Neglect not thy health (18): dispense with moderation,
Food to the body and to the mind repose (19).
Too much attention or too little shun; for envy
Thus, to either excess is alike attached (20).
Luxury and avarice have similar results.
One must choose in all things a mean just and good (21).
