ACCUSTOM thyself to overcome and vanquish these passions:
First gluttony, sloth, sensuality, and anger.
Do nothing evil, neither in the presence of others, nor privately;
But above all things respect thyself.
In the next place, observe justice in thy actions and in thy words.
And accustom not thyself to behave thyself in anything without rule, and
without reason. Concerning all the calamities that men suffer by divine fortune, support
with patience thy lot, be it what it may, and never repine at it. But endeavour what thou canst to remedy it. And consider that fate does
not send the greatest portion of these misfortunes to good men. Accustom thyself to a way of living that is neat and decent without luxury. Avoid all things that will occasion envy. Never suffer sleep to close thy eyelids, after thy going to bed, Till thou hast examined by thy reason all thy actions of the day. Wherein have I done amiss? What have I done? What have I omitted that
I ought to have done?
According to Law, the nature of this universe is in all things alike. Thou wilt likewise know, that men draw upon themselves their own
misfortunes voluntarily, and of their own free choice. But take courage; the race of man is divine. Sacred Nature reveals to them the most of hidden mysteries. And when, after having divested thyself of thy mortal body, thou
arrivest at the most pure ether, Thou shalt be a God, immortal, incorruptible, and Death shall have no
more dominion over thee.

From The Golden Verses of Pythagoras