Chanakya Neethi Part 5/17..

1. Agni is the worshipable person for the twice-born; the brahmana for the
  other castes; the husband for the wife; and the guest who comes for
 food at the midday meal for all.
2. As gold is tested in four ways by rubbing, cutting, heating and beating -
  - so a man should be tested by these four things: his renunciation, his
 conduct, his qualities and his actions.
3. A thing may be dreaded as long as it has not overtaken you, but once it
  has come upon you, try to get rid of it without hesitation.
4. Though persons be born from the same womb and under the same stars,
  they do not become alike in disposition as the thousand fruits of the
 badari tree.
5. He whose hands are clean does not like to hold an office; he who
  desires nothing cares not for bodily decorations; he who is only
 partially educated cannot speak agreeably; and he who speaks out
plainly cannot be a deceiver.
6. The learned are envied by the foolish; rich men by the poor; chaste
  women by adulteresses; and beautiful ladies by ugly ones.
7. Indolent application ruins study; money is lost when entrusted to others;
  a farmer who sows his seed sparsely is ruined; and an army is lost for
 want of a commander.
8. Learning is retained through putting into practice; family prestige is
  maintained through good behaviour; a respectable person is recognised
 by his excellent qualities; and anger is seen in the eyes.
9. Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge by diligent practice; a king
  by conciliatory words; and a home by a dutiful housewife.
10. Those who blaspheme Vedic wisdom, who ridicule the life style
recommended in the satras, and who deride men of peaceful
temperament, come to grief unnecessarily.
11. Charity puts an end to poverty; righteous conduct to misery; discretion
to ignorance; and scrutiny to fear.
12. There is no disease (so destructive) as lust; no enemy like infatuation;
no fire like wrath; and no happiness like spiritual knowledge.
13. A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and
bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the
Supreme abode.
14. Heaven is but a straw to him who knows spiritual life (Krsna
consciousness); so is life to a valiant man; a woman to him who has
subdued his senses; and the universe to him who is without attachment
for the world.
15. Learning is a friend on the journey; a wife in the house; medicine in
sickness; and religious merit is the only friend after death.
16. Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is
satiated; in vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a burning lamp
during the daytime is useless.
17. There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light
like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain.
18. The poor wish for wealth; animals for the faculty of speech; men wish
for heaven; and godly persons for liberation.
19. The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that
makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon
truth.
20. The Goddess of wealth is unsteady (chanchala), and so is the life
breath. The duration of life is uncertain, and the place of habitation is
uncertain; but in all this inconsistent world religious merit alone is
immovable.
21. Among men the barber is cunning; among birds the crow; among beasts
the jackal; and among women, the malin (flower girl).
22. These five are your fathers; he who gave you birth, girdled you with
sacred thread, teaches you, provides you with food, and protects you
from fearful situations.
23. These five should be considered as mothers; the king's wife, the
preceptor's wife, the friend's wife, your wife's mother, and your own
mother.