Iug. 1.1Falsō queritur dē nātūrā suā genus hūmānum, quod inbēcilla atque aevī brevis forte potius quam virtūte regātur.Mankind complains of its own nature without cause, saying that, being weak and short-lived, it is governed by chance rather than by merit. Iug. 1.2Nam contrā reputandō neque maius aliud neque praestābilius inveniās magisque nātūrae industriam hominum quam vim aut tempus dēesse.For on the contrary, if you reflect on it, you will find nothing greater or more excellent, and that it is effort on men's part that nature lacks rather than strength or time. Iug. 1.3Sed dux atque imperātor vītae mortālium animus est.But the guide and commander of mortal life is the mind. Iug. 1.3Quī ubi ad glōriam virtūtis viā grassātur, abundē pollēns potēnsque et clārus est neque fortūna eget, quippe quae probitātem, industriam aliāsque artīs bonās neque dare neque ēripere quoiquam potest.When it strides along the path of virtue towards glory, it is abundantly strong and powerful and renowned, and has no need of fortune, since fortune can neither give nor snatch away from anyone honesty, diligence and the other good qualities. Iug. 1.4Sīn captus prāvīs cupīdinibus ad inertiam et voluptātēs corporis pessum datus est, perniciōsā lubīdine paulisper ūsus, ubi per sōcordiam vīrēs tempus ingenium difflūxēre, nātūrae īnfirmitās accūsātur: suam quisque culpam auctōrēs ad negōtia trānsferunt.But if, captured by depraved desires, it has sunk into idleness and the pleasures of the body, then, after indulging for a little while in ruinous lust, when through sloth strength, time and talent have melted away, it is the weakness of nature that is accused: each man, though himself to blame, shifts his own fault onto circumstances.
Iug. 1.5Quod sī hominibus bonārum rērum tanta cūra esset, quantō studiō aliēna ac nihil prōfutūra multaque etiam perīculōsa ac perniciōsa petunt, neque regerentur magis quam regerent cāsūs et eō magnitūdinis prōcēderent, ubi prō mortālibus glōriā aeternī fierent.But if men had as much concern for good things as the zeal with which they seek what is foreign to them, of no profit, and often even dangerous and ruinous, they would not be ruled by events more than they ruled them, and would advance to such a height of greatness that from mortals they would become immortal through glory.