But, noble friend, think about this: doesn't true greatness and real happiness come from something other than just staying alive — whether for ourselves or others? A real man doesn't try to live as long as possible or cling to life. Instead, he trusts the gods completely. He knows what even women understand: that no one escapes death. So he focuses on just one thing — living well and doing right for whatever time he has.
But, O noble sir, consider I pray, whether true generosity and true happiness, do not consist in somewhat else rather, than in the preservation either of our, or other men's lives. For it is not the part of a man that is a man indeed, to desire to live long or to make much of his life whilst he liveth: but rather (he that is such) will in these things wholly refer himself unto the Gods, and believing that which every woman can tell him, that no man can escape death; the only thing that he takes thought and care for is this, that what time he liveth, he may live as well and as virtuously as he can possibly, &c.