Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 10

Vides illum Scythiae Sarmatiaeve regem insigni capitis decorum? Si vis illum aestimare totumque scire, qualis sit, fasciam solve; multum mali sub illa latet. Quid de aliis loquor? Si perpendere te voles, sepone pecuniam, domum, dignitatem, intus te ipse considera. Nunc qualis sis, aliis credis. Vale

Vois ce roi de Scythie ou de Sarmatie, le front paré du diadème : si tu le veux apprécier et savoir au fond tout ce qu’il est, détache son bandeau : que de misères cachées là-dessous ! Mais que parlé-je des autres ? Si tu veux te peser toi-même, mets à l’écart ta fortune, ta maison, ton rang, et considère l’homme intérieur. Jusque-là tu t’estimes sur la foi d’autrui.

Do you see yonder Scythian or Sarmatian king, his head adorned with the badge of his office? If you wish to see what he amounts to, and to know his full worth, take off his diadem; much evil lurks beneath it. But why do I speak of others? If you wish to set a value on yourself, put away your money, your estates, your honours, and look into your own soul. At present, you are taking the word of others for what you are. Farewell.