Why are you distracting him from seeing his own problems? Show him what virtue actually does so he knows where real improvement happens. Look for it there, you fool — where your actual work is. And where is your work? In what you want and what you avoid, so you don't get disappointed or end up with what you're trying to escape. In going after things and staying away from things, so you don't make mistakes. In what you accept as true and what you hold back from believing, so you don't get fooled. These first things I mentioned are the most important and necessary. But if you're shaking and crying while trying not to fall into what you want to avoid, tell me — how exactly are you improving?
Why do you draw him away from the perception of his own misfortunes? Will you not show him the effect of virtue that he may learn where to look for improvement? Seek it there, wretch, where your work lies. And where is your work? In desire and in aversion, that you may not be disappointed in your desire, and that you may not fall into that which you would avoid; in your pursuit and avoiding, that you commit no error; in assent and suspension of assent, that you be not deceived. The first things, and the most necessary are those which I have named. But if with trembling and lamentation you seek not to fall into that which you avoid, tell me how you are improving.