Ihavenothingminebutmyself，andyetthepossessionis，inpart，defectiveandborrowed。Ifortifymyselfbothincourage，whichisthestrongestassistant，andalsoinfortune，thereinwherewithtosatisfymyself，thougheverythingelseshouldforsakeme。HippiasofElisnotonlyfurnishedhimselfwithknowledge，thathemight，atneed，cheerfullyretirefromallothercompanytoenjoytheMuses:noronlywiththeknowledgeofphilosophy，toteachhissoultobecontentedwithitself，andbravelytosubsistwithoutoutwardconveniences，whenfatewouldhaveitso;hewas，moreover，socarefulastolearntocook，toshavehimself，tomakehisownclothes，hisownshoesanddrawers，toprovideforallhisnecessitiesinhimself，andtoweanhimselffromtheassistanceofothers。Amanmorefreelyandcheerfullyenjoysborrowedconveniences，whenitisnotanenjoymentforcedandconstrainedbyneed;
andwhenhehas，inhisownwillandfortune，themeanstolivewithoutthem。Iknowmyselfverywell;but’tishardformetoimagineanysopureliberalityofanyonetowardsme，anysofrankandfreehospitality，thatwouldnotappeartomediscreditable，tyrannical，andtaintedwithreproach，ifnecessityhadreducedmetoit。Asgivingisanambitiousandauthoritativequality，soisacceptingaqualityofsubmission;
witnesstheinsultingandquarrelsomerefusalthatBajazetmadeofthepresentsthatTamerlanesenthim;andthosethatwereofferedonthepartoftheEmperorSolymantotheEmperorofCalicut，soangeredhim，thathenotonlyrudelyrejectedthem，sayingthatneitherhenoranyofhispredecessorshadeverbeenwonttotake，andthatitwastheirofficetogive;but，moreover，causedtheambassadorssentwiththegiftstobeputintoadungeon。WhenThetis，saysAristotle，flattersJupiter，whentheLacedaemoniansflattertheAthenians，theydonotputtheminmindofthegoodtheyhavedonethem，whichisalwaysodious，butofthebenefitstheyhavereceivedfromthem。SuchasIseesofrequentlyemployeveryoneintheiraffairs，andthrustthemselvesintosomuchobligation，wouldneverdoit，didtheybutrelishasIdothesweetnessofapureliberty，anddidtheybutweigh，aswise:menshould，theburdenofobligation:’tissometimes，peradventure，fullypaid，but’tisneverdissolved。’Tisamiserableslaverytoamanwholovestobeatfulllibertyinallreapects。Suchasknowme，bothaboveandbelowmeinstation，areabletosaywhethertheyhaveeverknownamanlessimportuning，soliciting，entreating，andpressinguponothersthanI。
IfIamso，andadegreebeyondallmodernexample，’tisnogreatwonder，somanypartsofmymannerscontributingtoit:alittlenaturalpride，animpatienceatbeingrefused，themoderationofmydesiresanddesigns，myincapacityforbusiness，andmymostbelovedqualities，idlenessandfreedom;byallthesetogetherIhaveconceivedamortalhatredtobeingobligedtoanyother，orbyanyotherthanmyself。Ileavenostoneunturned，todowithoutit，ratherthanemploythebountyofanotherinanylightorimportantoccasionornecessitywhatever。Myfriendsstrangelytroublemewhentheyaskmetoaskathirdperson;andIthinkitcostsmelittlelesstodisengagehimwhoisindebtedtome，bymakinguseofhim，thantoengagemyselftohimwhoowesmenothing。Theseconditionsbeingremoved，andprovidedtheyrequireofmenothingifanygreattroubleorcare（forIhavedeclaredmortalwaragainstallcare），IamveryreadytodoeveryonethebestserviceIcan。Ihavebeenverywillingtoseekoccasiontodopeopleagoodturn，andtoattachthemtome;andmethinksthereisnomoreagreeableemploymentforourmeans。
ButIhaveyetmoreavoidedreceivingthansoughtoccasionsofgiving，andmoreover，accordingtoAristotle，itismoreeasy。，Myfortunehasallowedmebutlittletodoothersgoodwithal，andthelittleitcanafford，isputintoaprettyclosehand。HadIbeenbornagreatperson，Ishouldhavebeenambitioustohavemademyselfbeloved，nottomakemyselffearedoradmired:shallImoreplainlyexpressit？Ishouldmorehaveendeavouredtopleasethantoprofitothers。Cyrusverywisely，andbythemouthofagreatcaptain，andstillgreaterphilosopher，prefershisbountyandbenefitsmuchbeforehisvalourandwarlikeconquests;