As Much As You Can

    And if you cannot make your life as you want it,
    at least try this
    as much as you can: do not disgrace it
    in the crowding contact with the world,
    in the many movements and all the talk.

    Do not disgrace it by taking it,
    dragging it around often and exposing it
    to the daily folly
    of relationships and associations,
    till it becomes like an alien burdensome life

                                       -C.P. Cavafy


The original Greek is more eloquent, but I'm not sure if Greek characters will display correctly on e2, and most people will get more out of the English anyways.