The distance that separate the passengers from death.

When asked how one could avoid becoming too fond of wine, he said, “By keeping before your eyes the disgraceful conduct of drunkards.” He used to say that he found it surprising that the Greek lawgivers penalise the violent, but reward athletes for striking one another. Upon learning the hull of a ship was four finger-breadths thick, he said that this was the distance that separated the passengers from death.