Securius divites erimus si scierimus quam non sit grave pauperes esse.
Ir turėdami turtų, būsime ramesni, kai žinosime, kad ne taip sunku būti vargšams.
We shall be rich with all the more comfort, if we once learn how far poverty is from being a burden.
Illud quod paupertatem nobis gravem fecerat et divitias graves fecit.
Kam skurdas našta, tam ir turtas bus našta.
That which had made poverty a burden to his, has made riches also a burden.
Repraesentat opes sapientia, quas cuicumque fecit supervacuas dedit.
Išmintis duoda turtų ir juos tuoj pat padaro nereikalingus.
Wisdom offers wealth in ready money, and pays it over to those in whose eyes she has made wealth superfluous.
Tu vero, sive aliquid habes, iam philosophare — unde enim scis an iam nimis habeas?
Tačiau užsiimk filosofija ir šiek tiek turėdamas, nes iš kur žinai, ar ne per daug jau turi?
Nay, your plan should be this: be a philosopher now, whether you have anything or not, — for if you have anything, how do you know that you have not too much already?
Non est ergo prius acquirendum: licet ad philosophiam etiam sine viatico pervenire.
Vadinasi, nieko nereikia įsigyti iš anksto: į filosofiją galima ateiti ir neturint kelionpinigių.
Therefore one should not seek to lay up riches first; one may attain to philosophy, however, even without money for the journey.
Cum classicum cecinit, scit non se peti; cum aqua conclamata est, quomodo exeat, non quid efferat, quaerit.
Kai suskamba karo trimitas, varguolis žino, kad šis jo nekviečia; kai žmonės šaukia: “Potvynis!”, jis mąsto apie tai, kaip pačiam išeiti, o ne apie tai, ką išsinešti.
When the trumpet sounds, the poor man knows that he is not being attacked; when there is a cry of “Fire”, he only seeks a way of escape, and does not ask what he can save.
Istuc quoque ab Epicuro dictum est: “Si ad naturam vives, numquam eris pauper; si ad opiniones, numquam eris dives”. Exiguum natura desiderat, opinio immensum.
Taip pat ir šis Epikūro pasakymas: “Jei gyvensi pagal prigimtį, niekada nebūsi vargšas, jei pagal kitų nuomonę — niekada nebūsi turtingas”. Prigimčiai mažai tereikia, žmonių nuomonei — be galo daug.
This also is a saying of Epicurus: “If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to opinion, you will never be rich.” Nature’s wants are slight; the demands of opinion are boundless.
Excute te et varie scrutare et observa; illud ante omnia vide, utrum in philosophia an in ipsa vita profeceris. Non est philosophia populare artificium nec ostentationi paratum; non in verbis sed in rebus est.
Pirmiausia žiūrėk, ar pažangą darai filosofijoje, ar pačiame gyvenime. Filosofija nėra kiekvienam įkandamas ar parodai skirtas užsiėmimas. Ji slypi ne žodžiuose, bet darbuose.
Examine yourself; scrutinize and observe yourself in divers ways; but mark, before all else, whether it is in philosophy or merely in life itself that you have made progress. Philosophy is no trick to catch the public; it is not devised for show. It is a matter, not of words, but of facts.
Finem constitue quem transire ne possis quidem si velis; discedant aliquando ista insidiosa bona et sperantibus meliora quam assecutis. Si quid in illis esset solidi, aliquando et implerent; nunc haurientium sitim concitant.
Pasižymėk ribą, kurios nenorėtum peržengti, net jei ir galėtum. Tegu vieną kartą prasmenga tie pavojingi turtai, patrauklesni tiems, kurie jų siekia, negu tiems, kurie jų jau įsigijo. Jei juose būtų kokios nors tvirtybės, tai kartais žmogui jų užtektų, o dabar tik didina troškulį.
Fix a limit which you will not even desire to pass, should you have the power. At last, then, away with all these treacherous goods! They look better to those who hope for them than to those who have attained them. If there were anything substantial in them, they would sooner or later satisfy you; as it is, they merely rouse the drinkers’ thirst.
Subinde itaque, Lucili, quam multa sis consecutus recordare. Cum aspexeris quot te antecedant, cogita quot sequantur. Si vis gratus esse adversus deos et adversus vitam tuam, cogita quam multos antecesseris. Quid tibi cum ceteris? Te ipse antecessisti.
Neužmiršk, Liucilijau, kiek daug dalykų trokšti, o pamatęs, kiek žmonių tave pralenkė, pamąstyk, kiek jų atsiliko nuo tavęs. Jei nori būti dėkingas dievams ir savo gyvenimui, mąstyk apie tai, kiek daug jų pralenkei. Ar tau rūpi kiti? Tu pralenkei pats save.
Therefore continually remind yourself, Lucilius, how many ambitions you have attained. When you see many ahead of you, think how many are behind! If jou would thank the gods, and be grateful for your past life, you should contemplate how many men you have outstripped. But what have you to do with the others? You have outstripped yourself.