VIII. If you examine a Man that has been well Disciplined by Philosophy; you'll find nothing that's Unsound, Foul, or False in him : Nothing that's Servile, Foppish, or Fond; No selfish, no obnoxious, and absconding Prastices: To give him his due, his Business is always done; His Life may be short, but never imperfect: So that no Body can say he goes off the Stage before the Play is quite Acted. IX. The Happiness of your Life depends upon the Quality of your Thoughts, therefore guard accordingly : And take care that you entertain no Notions unsuitable to Virtue and reasonable Nature; Now in order to this, you must be wary in your Assent, Obedient to the Gods, and Benevolent to Mankind. X. As for other speculations, throw them all out of your Head, excepting those few Precepts above mention'd; Remembring withall, that every Mans Life lies all within the Present ; For the Past is spent, and done with, and the Future is uncertain : Now the Present is strictly examin'd, is but a point of Time. Well then! Life moves in a very narrow Compass; yes, and Men live in a poor Corner of the World too : And the most lasting Fame will stretch but to a sorry Extent. The Passage on't is uneven and craggy, and therefore it can't run far. The frequent Breaks of Succession drop it in the Conveyance : For alas ! poor transitory Mortals, know little either of themselves, or of those who were long before them.