Selection from Zoroastrianism's Sacred Menog-i Khrad: Chapters 14- 26, Part 2 of 2

The sage asked the spirit of wisdom thus: "Which is that pleasure which is worse than unhappiness? Wherefore do people consider these very little, these four things which it is necessary for them to consider more, as warnings, the changeableness of the things of the worldly existence, the death of the body, the account of the soul, and the fear of hell? Is living in fear and falsehood worse, or death? For kings which is the one thing more advantageous, and which the more injurious? Is it possible to provide, for one's own hand, the treasure and wealth of the worldly existence through exertion, or not? Is it possible to contend with destiny through wisdom and knowledge, or not?"