Water is best, but gold shines like fire blazing in the night, supreme of lordly wealth.
Success for the striven washes away the effort of striving.
One race there is of men, one of gods, but from one mother we both draw our breath.
Natural ability is by far the best, but many men have succeeded in winning high renown by skill that is the fruit of teaching.
He is gifted with genius who knoweth much by natural inspiration.
Even wisdom has to yield to self-interest.