6.
Many think that we Stoics are holding out expectations greater than our human lot admits of; and they have a right to think so.
For they have regard to the body only.
But let them turn back to the soul, and they will soon measure man by the standard of God.
Rouse yourself, most excellent Lucilius, and leave off all this word-play of the philosophers, who reduce a most glorious subject to a matter of syllables, and lower and wear out the soul by teaching fragments; then you will become like the men who discovered these precepts, instead of those who by their teaching do their best to make philosophy seem difficult rather than great.
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 6
Content:
6.
Many think that we Stoics are holding out expectations greater than our human lot admits of; and they have a right to think so.
For they have regard to the body only.
But let them turn back to the soul, and they will soon measure man by the standard of God.
Rouse yourself, most excellent Lucilius, and leave off all this word-play of the philosophers, who reduce a most glorious subject to a matter of syllables, and lower and wear out the soul by teaching fragments; then you will become like the men who discovered these precepts, instead of those who by their teaching do their best to make philosophy seem difficult rather than great.