Porque essas honras vãs, esse ouro puro
Verdadeiro valor não dão à gente:
Melhor é, merecê-los sem os ter,
Que possuí-los sem os merecer.

It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.

Yet gold all is not, that doth gold seem,
Nor all good knights, that shake well spear and shield:
The worth of all men by their end esteem,
And then praise, or due reproach them yield.

Great Heaven ! what vain beliefs
Have stirred the pulse and led the hopes of man !
As if that honour could be bought by blood,
And that the fierce right hand was better worth
Than the fine mind, and high and generous heart !—

Shine as they may, there are no kings
Adorned with jewelry and pearls
That shine as does a man restrained
Adorned with virtue's ornament.

how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavour to do himself honour among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him.

Society tempts me to its service by honours and riches and the good opinion of my fellows; but I am indifferent to their good opinion, I despise honours and I can do very well without riches.