A man came to me today talking about getting a priest job for the emperor Augustus. I told him: "Friend, forget about it. You'll spend a lot of money for nothing." But he said, "The people who write the contracts will put my name down." So I asked him: "Are you going to stand next to everyone who reads those contracts and tell them, 'Hey, that's my name written there'? And even if you could be there every time someone reads it now, what happens when you're dead?" He said, "My name will still be there." I told him: "Fine, carve it on a stone — it will last just as long. But tell me, who will remember you outside of this little town of Nicopolis?" Then he said, "But I'll get to wear a golden crown." I said: "If you really want a crown, pick some roses and make one. It'll look better anyway."
A person was talking to me to-day about the priesthood of Augustus. I say to him: Man, let the thing alone; you will spend much for no purpose. But he replies, Those who draw up agreements will write my name. Do you then stand by those who read them, and say to such persons, It is I whose name is written there? And if you can now be present on ail such occasions, what will you do when you are dead? My name will remain. Write it on a stone, and it will remain. But come, what remembrance of you will there be beyond Nicopolis? But I shall wear a crown of gold. If you desire a crown at all, take a crown of roses and put it on, for it will be more elegant in appearance.