Do not be, O soul, among those essences that are in need of mediators; for the interpreter may perhaps betray the expression of the words, and might change or pervert the speech.

Therefore, depart, O soul, from the rank of the foreigner (the unrefined) into the rank of eloquence. Acquire, O soul, knowledge before action, and the knowledge of the fruit before the planting of the tree; so that through the speech, you may realize constancy in knowledge before practice. For in that, there is great rest and immense benefit.