1That is how it is; I do not change my opinion: flee the crowd, flee the few, flee even the one. 1I have no one with whom I would wish you to share yourself. 1And see what judgement of mine you hold: I dare to entrust you to yourself. 1Crates, as they say, a pupil of this very Stilpo whom I mentioned in my previous letter, on seeing a young man walking apart by himself, asked what he was doing there alone. 1'I am talking with myself,' he said. 1To which Crates said, 'Take care, I beg you, and pay careful attention; 1you are talking with a bad man.' 2We are accustomed to keep watch over someone who is grieving or afraid, so that he does not make bad use of solitude.
2There is no one among the unwise who ought to be left to himself; 2it is then that they turn over bad plans, then that they contrive dangers to come either for others or for themselves; 2then they set their wicked desires in order; 2then the mind lays bare whatever it used to hide through fear or shame; then it sharpens boldness, provokes lust, goads anger. 2Finally, the one advantage that solitude has, to entrust nothing to anyone and not to fear an informer, is lost to the fool; 2he betrays himself. 2See, then, what I hope for you, or rather what I promise myself, for hope is the name of an uncertain good: I find no one with whom I would rather you were than with yourself.
3I recall in memory with what great spirit you flung out certain words, how full of strength they were. 3At once I congratulated myself and said: 'Those words did not come from the tips of the lips; these utterances have a foundation. 3That man is not one of the crowd; he has his eye on salvation.' 4Speak so, live so; 4see that nothing beats you down. 4As for your old prayers, you may let the gods off them; take up others afresh; 4pray for a sound mind, for good health of the soul, and only then of the body. 4Why should you not make these prayers often? 4Boldly ask God; 4you will be asking him for nothing that belongs to another.
5But to send off my letter, as is my custom, with some little gift, what I found in Athenodorus is true: 'Know that you are freed from all desires when you have reached the point of asking God for nothing except what you could ask openly.' 5For as things are, how great is the madness of men! 5They whisper the most shameful prayers to the gods; 5if anyone puts his ear close, they will fall silent. 5And what they do not want a man to know, they tell to God. 5See, then, whether this precept could not wholesomely be given: live with men as if God were watching; 5speak with God as if men were listening.
5Farewell.