May God grant me love for that which has splendor; but in this time of my life let me strive for attainable things.
I will have a care of being a slave to myself, for it is a perpetual, a shameful, and the heaviest of all servitudes; and this may be done by moderate desires.
Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit.
I'm fine with just a simple life.
The remedy against want is to moderate your desires.
Ask the gods nothing excessive.
The stomach begs and clamors, and listens to no precepts. And yet it is not an obdurate creditor; for it is dismissed with small payment if you give it only what you owe, and not as much as you can.
