There is one thing — and only one — that is worth caring about in this world. We should value it highly. That thing is this: to deal with dishonest and unfair people with truth and justice, but also with gentleness and love.
One thing there is, and that only, which is worth our while in this world, and ought by us much to be esteemed; and that is, according to truth and righteousness, meekly and lovingly to converse with false, and unrighteous men.
Think about the deaths of all kinds of people — men from every profession and every nation. Think of names like Philistio, Phoebus, and Origanion. Now move on to other generations. That's where we're all heading after many changes. That's where so many great speakers have gone. Where so many serious philosophers are — Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Socrates. Where so many heroes from ancient times are. And so many brave generals from more recent times. And so many kings. After all of them, where are Eudoxus, Hipparchus, Archimedes? Where are all those other sharp, generous, hardworking, clever, determined minds? And among them, even those who mocked and made fun of how fragile and brief human life is — like Menippus and others like him. Think about all of these people. They have all been dead and gone for a long time. And what harm does it do them? Even those whose names are completely forgotten — are they any worse off?
Let the several deaths of men of all sorts, and of all sorts of professions, and of all sort of nations, be a perpetual object of thy thoughts,... so that thou mayst even come down to Philistio, Phœbus, and Origanion. Pass now to other generations. Thither shall we after many changes, where so many brave orators are; where so many grave philosophers; Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Socrates. Where so many heroes of the old times; and then so many brave captains of the latter times; and so many kings. After all these, where Eudoxus, Hipparchus, Archimedes; where so many other sharp, generous, industrious, subtile, peremptory dispositions; and among others, even they, that have been the greatest scoffers and deriders of the frailty and brevity of this our human life; as Menippus, and others, as many as there have been such as he. Of all these consider, that they long since are all dead, and gone. And what do they suffer by it! Nay they that have not so much as a name remaining, what are they the worse for it?