5.
Certain of our school, think that, of all such qualities, a stout endurance is not desirable,—though not to be deprecated either—because we ought to seek by prayer only the good which is unalloyed, peaceful, and beyond the reach of trouble.
Personally, I do not agree with them.
And why?
First, because it is impossible for anything to be good without being also desirable.
Because, again, if virtue is desirable, and if nothing that is good lacks virtue, then everything good is desirable.
And, lastly, because a brave endurance even under torture is desirable.
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On ill-health and endurance of suffering
Location: Chapter 67, Section 5
Content:
5.
Certain of our school, think that, of all such qualities, a stout endurance is not desirable,—though not to be deprecated either—because we ought to seek by prayer only the good which is unalloyed, peaceful, and beyond the reach of trouble.
Personally, I do not agree with them.
And why?
First, because it is impossible for anything to be good without being also desirable.
Because, again, if virtue is desirable, and if nothing that is good lacks virtue, then everything good is desirable.
And, lastly, because a brave endurance even under torture is desirable.