Gold is tested by fire; a well-born person, by his deportment; an honest man, by his conduct. A brave man is tested during a season of panic; he that is self-controlled, in times of poverty; and friends and foes, in times of calamity and danger. Decrepitude destroyeth beauty; ambitious hopes, patience; death, life; envy, righteousness; anger, prosperity; companionship with the low, good behaviour; lust, modesty, and pride, everything.

In plain words: Gold is tested by fire. In the same way, people are tested by hard times. Bravery shows in panic, self-control shows in poverty, and true friends show in danger. Old age ruins beauty, greedy hopes ruin patience, envy ruins goodness, anger ruins wealth, bad company ruins good manners, lust ruins modesty, and pride ruins everything.