Don't allow your laughter be much, nor on many occasions, nor
           profuse.

           Avoid swearing, if possible, altogether; if not, as far as you
           are able.

           Avoid public and vulgar entertainments; but, if ever an
           occasion calls you to them, keep your attention upon the
           stretch, that you may not imperceptibly slide into vulgar
           manners. For be assured that if a person be ever so sound
           himself, yet, if his companion be infected, he who converses
           with him will be infected likewise.

           Provide things relating to the body no further than mere use;
           as meat, drink, clothing, house, family. But strike off and
           reject everything relating to show and delicacy.

           As far as possible, before marriage, keep yourself pure from
           familiarities with women, and, if you indulge them, let it be
           lawfully." But don't therefore be troublesome and full of
           reproofs to those who use these liberties, nor frequently
           boast that you yourself don't.

           If anyone tells you that such a person speaks ill of you,
           don't make excuses about what is said of you, but answer: " He
           does not know my other faults, else he would not have
           mentioned only these."

           It is not necessary for you to appear often at public
           spectacles; but if ever there is a proper occasion for you to
           be there, don't appear more solicitous for anyone than for
           yourself; that is, wish things to be only just as they are,
           and him only to conquer who is the conqueror, for thus you
           will meet with no hindrance. But abstain entirely from
           declamations and derision and violent emotions. And when you
           come away, don't discourse a great deal on what has passed,
           and what does not contribute to your own amendment. For it
           would appear by such discourse that you were immoderately
           struck with the show.

           Go not [of your own accord] to the rehearsals of any
           [authors], nor appear [at them] readily. But, if you do
           appear, keep your gravity and sedateness, and at the same time
           avoid being morose.

           When you are going to confer with anyone, and particularly of
           those in a superior station, represent to yourself how
           Socrates or Zeno would behave in such a case, and you will not
           be at a loss to make a proper use of whatever may occur.

           When you are going to any of the people in power, represent to
           yourself that you will not find him at home; that you will not
           be admitted; that the doors will not be opened to you; that he
           will take no notice of you. If, with all this, it is your duty
           to go, bear what happens, and never say [to yourself], " It
           was not worth so much." For this is vulgar, and like a man
           dazed by external things.

           In parties of conversation, avoid a frequent and excessive
           mention of your own actions and dangers. For, however
           agreeable it may be to yourself to mention the risks you have
           run, it is not equally agreeable to others to hear your
           adventures. Avoid, likewise, an endeavor to excite laughter.
           For this is a slippery point, which may throw you into vulgar
           manners, and, besides, may be apt to lessen you in the esteem
           of your acquaintance. Approaches to indecent discourse are
           likewise dangerous. Whenever, therefore, anything of this sort
           happens, if there be a proper opportunity, rebuke him who
           makes advances that way; or, at least, by silence and blushing
           and a forbidding look, show yourself to be displeased by such
           talk.

           34. If you are struck by the appearance of any promised
           pleasure, guard yourself against being hurried away by it; but
           let the affair wait your leisure, and procure yourself some
           delay. Then bring to your mind both points of time: that in
           which you will enjoy the pleasure, and that in which you will
           repent and reproach yourself after you have enjoyed it; and
           set before you, in opposition to these, how you will be glad
           and applaud yourself if you abstain. And even though it should
           appear to you a seasonable gratification, take heed that its
           enticing, and agreeable and attractive force may not subdue
           you; but set in opposition to this how much better it is to be
           conscious of having gained so great a victory.

           35. When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought
           to be done, never shun the being seen to do it, even though
           the world should make a wrong supposition about it; for, if
           you don't act right, shun the action itself; but, if you do,
           why are you afraid of those who censure you wrongly?

           36. As the proposition, "Either it is day or it is night," is
           extremely proper for a disjunctive argument, but quite
           improper in a conjunctive one, so, at a feast, to choose the
           largest share is very suitable to the bodily appetite, but
           utterly inconsistent with the social spirit of an
           entertainment. When you eat with another, then, remember not
           only the value of those things which are set before you to the
           body, but the value of that behavior which ought to be
           observed towards the person who gives the entertainment.