Debasing daily folly

As Much As You Can

Even if you cannot shape your life as you want it,
at least try this
as much as you can; do not debase it
in excessive contact with the world,
in the excessive movements and talk.

Do not debase it by taking it,
dragging it often and exposing it
to the daily folly
of relationships and associations,
until it becomes burdensome as an alien life.

-Constantine P. Cavafy (1913)

Someone please explain to me how Cavafy slipped through the cracks of my life until just recently.  It's all about simple layers.