Chapter III. Consideration fourfold: (1) the Pope himself, (2) things below him, (3) things around him, (4) things above him

Now as regards the fruit of consideration, I think there are, as they occur to me, four subjects worthy of your consideration — yourself, things below you, things around you, and things above you. Let your consideration begin with yourself, lest, while you neglect yourself, you waste your energies on other things. What does it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your single self ? * Though you be wise, you lack wisdom to yourself, if you do not belong to yourself. But how far do you lack wisdom ? In my opinion, altogether. Though you know all mysteries, though you know the breadth of the earth, the height of the heavens, the depth of the sea, if you know not yourself, you will be like a man building without a foundation, and will succeed not in rearing an edifice, but in making a ruin. Whatever structure you raise outside yourself will be like a heap of dust before the wind. He, therefore, is not wise who is not wise to himself. The wise man will be wise to himself, and will first of all drink of his own well. Let, then, your consideration begin at yourself ; and not only so, let it end there. Whithersoever it may roam, recall it to yourself, and it will bring with it the fruit of salvation. To yourself be first, to yourself be last. Copy the example of the Great Father of all, who both sends forth His word and keeps it with Him. Consideration is your ' word ' ; if it goes forth, let it not go away ; let it so go on that it go not out ; let it so go outside that it be not gone 1 St. Matt. xvi. 26.