No man when he views the lot of others is content with his own. This is why we grow angry even at the gods, because some person is ahead of us, forgetting how many men there are behind us, and how huge a mass of envy follows at the back of him who envies but a few. Nevertheless such is the presumptuousness of men that, although they may have received much, they count it an injury that they might have received more. “He gave me the praetorship, but I had hoped for the consulship; he gave me the twelve fasces, but he did not make me a regular consul; he was willing that my name should be attached to the year,16 but he disappointed me with respect to the priesthood; I was elected a member of the college, but why of one only? he crowned me with public honor, but he added nothing to my patrimony; what he gave me he had to give to somebody — he took nothing out of his own pocket.” Express thanks rather for what you have received; wait for the rest, and be glad that you are not yet surfeited. There is a pleasure in having something left to hope for. Have you outstripped all others? Rejoice that you are first in the regard of your friend. Are there many who outstrip you? Consider how many more you are ahead of than behind, Do you ask me what is your greatest fault? Your book-keeping is wrong; what you have paid out you take high; what you have received, low.