38.1 ἐν τῷ περιπατεῖν καθάπερ προσέχεις μὴ ἐπιβῇς ἥλῳ ἢ στρέψῃς τὸν πόδα, οὕτω πρόσεχε μὴ καὶ τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν βλάψῃς τὸ σεαυτοῦ. καὶ τοῦτο ἂν ἐφ' ἑκάστου ἔργου παραφυλάσσωμεν, ἀσφαλέστερον ἁψόμεθα ἑκάστου.
notes
Preserve Your Ruling Principle in Every Action
Just as you watch your step while walking, preserve your ruling principle (reason) in every action.
προσέχεις: supply νοῦν: “pay attention,” “take care”
ἐπιβῇς ... στρέψῃς ... βλάψῃς: 2 sg. aor. act. subj. after a verb of caution (G. 610 and 611b; S. 2220)
τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν: the dominant part, the authoritative faculty of the soul, reason.
vocabulary
περιπατέω, to walk about
καθάπερ, (adv.) just as, as if
προσέχω, προσέξω, προσχήσω, to hold to, turn to; pay attention to, be intent on + dat.; beware + μή + subj.
ἐπιβαίνω, ἐπιβήσομαι, ἐπέβην, to walk upon, step on + dat.
ἧλος, -ου, ὁ, nail
στρέφω, στρέψω, ἔστρεψα, to turn (toward), twist, strain
ἡγεμονικός, -ή, -όν, qualified to lead, capable of command; τὸ ἡγεμονικόν (philoph.) authoritative faculty, reason
βλάπτω, βλάψω, ἔβλαψα, to harm, disable
παραφυλάσσω, to guard carefully, safeguard
ἀσφαλής, -ές, steadfast, securely
ἅπτω, ἅψω, ἥψα, to grasp, obtain, engage in, undertake (+ gen)