From my grandfather Verus I learned good morals and the government of my temper. From the reputation and remembrance of my father, modesty and a manly character. From my mother, piety and beneficence; and abstinence, not only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and, further, simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the habits of the rich.
From my governor, ... I learned endurance of labor and to want little, and to work with my own hands, and not to meddle with other people's affairs, and not to be ready to listen to slander. From Apollonius, freedom of will and undeviating steadiness of purpose; and to look to nothing else, not even for a moment, except to reason.
From my brother, I learned to love my kin, and to love truth, and to love justice; . . . from him I received the idea of a polity in which there is the same law for all, a polity administered with regard to equal rights and equal freedom of speech, and the idea of a kingly government which respects most of all the freedom of the governed; I learned from him also consistency and undeviating steadiness in my regard for philosophy: and a disposition to do good, and to give to others readily, and to cherish good hope.
