Have naught to do with occupations of ill-repute, still less with fads that bring more notoriety than repute. There are many fanciful sects, and from all the prudent man has to flee. There are men with bizarre tastes that always take to their heart all that wise men repudiate; they live in love with singularity. This may make them well known indeed, but more as objects of ridicule than of repute. A cautious man does not even make profession of his wisdom, still less of those matters that make him or his followers ridiculous. These need not be specified, for common contempt has sufficiently singled them out.

不做毁誉之事，更不要追随可能带来恶名而不是荣誉的风气。社会上有不少邪门左道，明智的人远离这一切。有些人的品味是很奇怪的，明智之人鄙弃的东西他也能全盘接受。他们酷爱那些奇行怪事，这确实可能让他们家喻户晓，但往往是作为笑柄，而非赞誉。谨慎之人不会公然宣称自己有智慧，更别说去追求那些让自己或是追随者看上去可笑的东西。这种事情无须特指，人们的鄙视已足以指明。