18.
The earlier Academics do indeed admit that a man is happy even amid such tortures, but do not admit that he is completely or fully happy.
With this view we cannot in any wise agree; for unless a man is happy, he has not attained the Supreme Good; and the good which is supreme admits of no higher degree, if only virtue exists within this man, and if adversity does not impair his virtue, and if, though the body be injured, the virtue abides unharmed.
And it does abide.
For I understand virtue to be high-spirited and exalted, so that it is aroused by anything that molests it.
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the supreme good
Location: Chapter 71, Section 18
Content:
18.
The earlier Academics do indeed admit that a man is happy even amid such tortures, but do not admit that he is completely or fully happy.
With this view we cannot in any wise agree; for unless a man is happy, he has not attained the Supreme Good; and the good which is supreme admits of no higher degree, if only virtue exists within this man, and if adversity does not impair his virtue, and if, though the body be injured, the virtue abides unharmed.
And it does abide.
For I understand virtue to be high-spirited and exalted, so that it is aroused by anything that molests it.