Even if you can't

make of your life what you want,

try this at least

to the extent that you can.

Do not devalue your life

by being too much in touch with society

too much to-and-fro and chat.

Do not devalue your life by escorting it,

turning it constantly about and exposing it

to the every day nonsense

of relationships and parties,

until it turns foreign, a burden.

- Constantine P. Cavafy