Enchiridion · §33

τάξον εὐθὺς ποιόν τινα εἶναί σε καὶ ὁποῖόν τινα ζῆν προαιρούμενος καὶ μόνος ὢν καὶ μεθ᾽ ἑτέρων.σιωπὴ τὸ πολὺ ἔστω ἢ λαλείσθω τὰ ἀναγκαῖα καὶ δι᾽ ὀλίγων. σπανίως δέ ποτε, ὅταν ἡ χρεία καλῇ, λόγον μέχρι περιφέρου, μὴ γλαδιατόρων μηδὲ ἱπποδρομιῶν μηδὲ ἀθλητῶν μηδὲ βρωμάτων ἢ πομάτων· μάλιστα δὲ μὴ κρίνε ἀνθρώπους μήτε ἐπαίνων μήτε ψέγων μήτε συγκρίνων.

taxon euthus poion tina einai se kai hopoion tina zēn proairoumenos kai monos ōn kai meth' heterōn. siōpē to polu estō ē laleisthō ta anankaia kai di' oligōn. spaniōs de pote, hotan hē chreia kalē, logon mechri peripherou; malista de mē krine anthrōpous mēte epainōn mēte psegōn mēte sunkrinōn.

Fix immediately what kind of person you choose to be, and hold to that standard both alone and in company. Silence should be your default; speak when needed and briefly. In social gatherings, do not discuss gladiators, horse-races, athletes, food, or drink; above all, do not judge people — do not praise them, criticize them, or compare them. If you can, steer conversation toward something worthy; if you cannot, say nothing. Laughter, especially loud and frequent laughter, is a sign of a disordered character. Decline oaths if at all possible. Avoid banquets with strangers and the unphilosophical; if you must attend, take care not to relapse into vulgarity. Do not accept the company of those who live carelessly lest their habits contaminate yours. Regarding bodily needs — food, drink, clothing, shelter, household — take only what is necessary, and cut everything that serves display or luxury. Regarding sex, stay within what is lawful before marriage; if you yield to desire, do not be shameless about it or boast. If someone tells you that another person speaks badly of you, do not defend yourself or attack the speaker; reply only that they must not know your other faults, since there would be much more to say. It is not necessary to attend the theatre often; if you do go, follow the performance without taking sides and without strong emotion. Before a performance you know will be difficult, remind yourself that it will be troubling only if your character allows it. Do not take more food than your share at a dinner-party, and remember that choosing the best portion for your body is acceptable but doing so in a way that insults your host is not. When you must do something undignified, do it quietly and without making it public. When you approach someone more powerful than yourself, consider the possibility that you might fail to achieve what you want — and that failing at that is less bad than failing in your own character. Do not say 'I lost it' about anything; say 'I returned it.' Your child died? It was returned. Your wife died? She was returned. Your property was taken? It was returned. But the one who took it was bad. What business is that of yours? How things are given back is the giver's concern, not yours.

— Enchiridion 33

Source: Greek (Schenkl/Oldfather critical edition tradition) + Long 1877 English translation