28.
What then, you ask, is an evil?
It is the yielding to those things which are called evils; it is the surrendering of one’s liberty into their control, when really we ought to suffer all things in order to preserve this liberty.
Liberty is lost unless we despise those things which put the yoke upon our necks.
If men knew what bravery was, they would have no doubts as to what a brave man’s conduct should be.
For bravery is not thoughtless rashness, or love of danger, or the courting of fear-inspiring objects; it is the knowledge which enables us to distinguish between that which is evil and that which is not.
Bravery takes the greatest care of itself, and likewise endures with the greatest patience all things which have a false appearance of being evils.
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On some vain syllogisms
Location: Chapter 85, Section 27
Content:
28.
What then, you ask, is an evil?
It is the yielding to those things which are called evils; it is the surrendering of one’s liberty into their control, when really we ought to suffer all things in order to preserve this liberty.
Liberty is lost unless we despise those things which put the yoke upon our necks.
If men knew what bravery was, they would have no doubts as to what a brave man’s conduct should be.
For bravery is not thoughtless rashness, or love of danger, or the courting of fear-inspiring objects; it is the knowledge which enables us to distinguish between that which is evil and that which is not.
Bravery takes the greatest care of itself, and likewise endures with the greatest patience all things which have a false appearance of being evils.