The wise person considers the consequences,
while the heedless sees only the present.
You see a man rushing into something he thinks brings pleasure or benefit, and he immerses himself in it,
and does not consider what his situation will lead to.
For, a momentary pleasure might cause future torment,
and a small benefit might lead to great harm.
And this is like someone who ate delicious food that was poisoned,
and so he has destroyed himself.
Had he looked with insight, he would have known that safety lies in avoiding what is feared in its outcome.
And some wise people have said,
"The wise person sees, with the light of his thought, the consequences of matters before they occur. He avoids what he fears will have a bad outcome, and hastens toward what he hopes will have a good outcome."
So make for yourself a mirror of thought through which you see what lies beyond events,
and do not be like the beast whose only concern is its pasture,
and does not consider what its outcome will be.
