The only thing which consoles us

The only thing which consoles us

for our miseries is diversion,

and yet this is the greatest of our miseries.

For it is this which principally hinders us

from reflecting upon ourselves,

and which makes us insensibly ruin ourselves.

Without this we should be in a state of weariness,

and this weariness would spur us

to seek a more solid means of escaping from it.

But [diversion amuses us

and leads] us unconsciously to death.