A Tale of the Bitter Sugar

One of the wise fell sick with fever, and someone said to him, 'Go ask so-and-so for some sugar.' He answered, 'My son, the bitterness of my own death is easier to bear than the insult of that sour, scowling face.' A sensible man will not take sugar from the hand of one who turns his face away in arrogance, sour as vinegar. Do not chase after everything your heart desires, for pampering the body drains the light of the soul. The craving self debases a man; if you have any sense, do not hold it dear. If you eat whatever you wish, you will carry away much disappointment from the turning of the world. To keep the oven of your belly always fired up makes the day of scarcity a disaster. When times are hard the color drains from your face, because in times of plenty you never held your stomach in check. The glutton carries the burden of his belly; and when he finds no food, he carries the burden of sorrow instead. You will often see the slave of his stomach ashamed. To me, a tight stomach is better than a tight, aching heart.