Look not about upon other men’s minds and understandings; but look right on forwards whither nature, both that of the universe, in those things that happen unto thee; and thine in particular, in those things that are done by thee: doth lead, and direct thee.
Now every one is bound to do that, which is consequent and agreeable to that end which by his true natural constitution he was ordained unto.
As for all other things, they are ordained for the use of reasonable creatures: as in all things we see that, that which is worse and inferior, is made for that which is better.
Reasonable creatures, they are ordained one for another.
That therefore which is chief in every man’s constitution, is, that he intend the common good.
The second is, that he yield not to any lusts and motions of the flesh.
For it is the part and privilege of the reasonable and intellective faculty, that she can so bound herself, as that neither the sensitive, nor the appetitive faculties, may not anyways prevail upon her.
For both these are brutish. And therefore over both she challengeth mastery, and cannot anyways endure, if in her right temper, to be subject unto either. And this indeed most justly. For by nature she was ordained to command all in the body.
The third thing proper to man by his constitution, is, to avoid all rashness and precipitancy; and not to be subject to error.
To these things then, let the mind apply herself and go straight on, without any distraction about other things, and she hath her end, and by consequent her happiness.