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Only those beneath me can envy or hate me.
I have never been envied nor hated; I am above no one.
Only those above me can praise or belittle me.
I have never been praised nor belittled; I am below no one.
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Your saying to me, “I do not understand you,” is praise beyond my worth, and an insult you do not deserve.
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How mean am I when life gives me gold and I give you silver, and yet I deem myself generous.
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When you reach the heart of life you will find yourself not higher than the felon, and not lower than the prophet.
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