9.
And what quality is best in man?
It is reason; by virtue of reason he surpasses the animals, and is surpassed only by the gods.
Perfect reason is therefore the good peculiar to man; all other qualities he shares in some degree with animals and plants.
Man is strong; so is the lion.
Man is comely; so is the peacock.
Man is swift; so is the horse.
I do not say that man is surpassed in all these qualities.
I am not seeking to find that which is greatest in him, but that which is peculiarly his own.
Man has body; so also have trees.
Man has the power to act and to move at will; so have beasts and worms.
Man has a voice; but how much louder is the voice of the dog, how much shriller that of the eagle, how much deeper that of the bull, how much sweeter and more melodious that of the nightingale!
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On learning wisdom in old age
Location: Chapter 76, Section 9
Content:
9.
And what quality is best in man?
It is reason; by virtue of reason he surpasses the animals, and is surpassed only by the gods.
Perfect reason is therefore the good peculiar to man; all other qualities he shares in some degree with animals and plants.
Man is strong; so is the lion.
Man is comely; so is the peacock.
Man is swift; so is the horse.
I do not say that man is surpassed in all these qualities.
I am not seeking to find that which is greatest in him, but that which is peculiarly his own.
Man has body; so also have trees.
Man has the power to act and to move at will; so have beasts and worms.
Man has a voice; but how much louder is the voice of the dog, how much shriller that of the eagle, how much deeper that of the bull, how much sweeter and more melodious that of the nightingale!