51
Agrippinus was justly entitled to praise on this account, that, though he was a man of the highest worth, he never praised himself, but blushed even if another praised him. And he was a man of such a character as to commend every untoward event that befell him: if he was feverish, the fever; if disgraced, the disgrace; if banished, the banishment. And, when once, as he was going to dine, a messenger brought him word that Nero ordered him to banishment, Well, then, said Agrippinus, let us dine at Aricia.The first stage on his journey into banishment. See note, ante. - H.
52
Diogenes affirmed—no labor to be good, unless the end were a due state and tone of the soul, and not of the body.
53
As a true balance is neither set right by a true one, nor judged by a false one; so likewise a just person has neither to be set right by just persons, nor to be judged by unjust ones.
54
As what is straight needs no straightness, so what is just needs [to borrow] no justice.
55
Give no judgment from another tribunal before you have yourself been judged at the tribunal of absolute justice.
56
If you would give a just decision, heed neither parties nor pleaders, but the cause itself.
57
You will commit the fewest faults in judging, if you are faultless in your own life.
58
It is better, by giving a just judgment, to be blamed by him who is deservedly condemned, than, by giving an unjust judgment, to be justly censured by Nature.
59
As the touchstone which tries gold, but is not itself tried by the gold, such is he who has the standard of judgment.
60
It is scandalous for a judge to have to be judged by others.
61
As nothing is straighter than absolute straightness, so nothing is juster than absolute justice.
