But even though your behavior doesn't hurt me, I still want to give you some advice for your own good: respect virtue. Listen to those who have followed virtue for years when they tell you how powerful it is — and that it grows more powerful every day. Show virtue the same reverence you would show the gods. Honor virtue's followers the way you would honor priests. And whenever someone mentions the sacred writings of philosophy, _favete linguis_ — give us your respectful silence. This phrase doesn't come from the word 'favor' like most people think. It commands silence so that divine service can happen without being interrupted by unlucky words.
But although this conduct of yours does not hurt me, yet, for your own sakes, I advise you, respect virtue: believe those who having long followed her cry aloud that what they follow is a thing of might, and daily appears mightier. Reverence her as you would the gods, and reverence her followers as you would the priests of the gods: and whenever any mention of sacred writings is made, _favete linguis_, favour us with silence: this word is not derived, as most people imagine, from _favour_, but commands silence, that divine service may be performed without being interrupted by any words of evil omen.