12. “It would be no good for a man to secure himself safety as far as men are concerned, while in a state of apprehension as to all the heavenly bodies, and those under the earth, and in short, all those in the infinite.
13. “Irresistible power and great wealth may, up to a certain point, give us security as far as men are concerned; but the security of men in general depends upon the tranquillity of their souls, and their freedom from ambition.
14. “The riches of nature are defined and easily procurable; but vain desires are insatiable.
15. “The wise man is but little favoured by fortune; but his reason procures him the greatest and most valuable goods, and these he does enjoy, and will enjoy the whole of his life.
16. “The just man is the freest of all men from disquietude; but the unjust man is a perpetual prey to it.
17. “Pleasure in the flesh is not increased, when once the pain arising from want is removed; it is only diversified.
18. “The most perfect happiness of the soul depends on these reflections, and on opinions of a similar character on all those questions which cause the greatest alarm to the mind.
19. “Infinite and finite time both have equal pleasure, if any one measures its limits by reason.
20. “If the flesh could experience boundless pleasure, it would want to dispose of eternity.[145]