Self Evaluation

Μηδ’ ὑπνον μαλακοισιν επ’ ομμασι προσδεξασθαι,
Πριν των ἡμερινων εργων τρις ἑκαστον επελθειν·
Πηι παρεβην; τι δ’ ερεξα; τι μοι δεον ουκ ετελεσθη;
Αρξαμενος δ’ απο πρωτου επεξιθι; και μετεπειτα,
Δειλα μεν εκπρηξας, επιπλησσεο, χρηστα δε, τερπου.

Let not sleep (says Pythagoras) fall upon thy eyes
till thou hast thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day.
Where have I turned aside from rectitude?
What have I been doing?
What have I left undone, which I ought to have done?
Begin thus from the first act, and proceed;
and in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done be troubled, and rejoice for the good.


Samuel Johnson
The Rambler, 8