1But that class is most rare of those who, endowed either with outstanding greatness of intellect or with distinguished erudition and learning, or with both, have also had time to deliberate which course of life they would most wish to follow; 1in this deliberation every decision must be referred back to each man's own nature. 1For while in all that we do we seek out what is fitting on the basis of how each person was born, as was said above, in planning one's whole life far greater care must be given to this matter, so that we may be consistent with ourselves throughout the whole length of our life and not falter in any duty.
120But since in this reckoning nature has the greatest force and fortune the next, account must certainly be taken of both in choosing a kind of life, but more of nature; 120for nature is much both firmer and more steadfast, so that fortune sometimes seems, as if itself mortal, to be fighting with immortal nature. 120He, then, who has directed his whole plan of living towards the kind of his own nature, provided it is not vicious, should hold to consistency (for this is most fitting), unless perhaps he realises that he has made a mistake in choosing his kind of life. 120If that happens (and it can happen), a change of habits and pursuits must be made.
120If circumstances assist that change, we shall make it more easily and conveniently; 120if not, it must be made gradually and step by step, just as wise men judge it more fitting to loosen gradually friendships that please less and are less approved than to cut them off suddenly. 121But when our kind of life has been changed, we must take every care to seem to have done this with good reason. 121But since it was said a little earlier that our ancestors should be imitated, let this first be excepted, that their vices are not to be imitated; and next, if nature will not allow someone to imitate certain things (as the son of the elder Africanus, who adopted this Africanus, the son of Paullus, could not, because of weak health, be as like his father as Africanus had been like his own); 121if, then, he cannot plead cases, or hold the people with speeches, or wage wars, he will still be obliged to show those qualities which are in his own power: justice, good faith, liberality, modesty, temperance, so that what he lacks may be less missed in him.
121The best inheritance, moreover, handed down from fathers to children, and more excellent than any patrimony, is the glory of virtue and of achievements, and to disgrace this must be judged a sin.