33.
For myself, I maintain that a different answer should be given: that the pilot’s art is never made worse by the storm, nor the application of his art either.
The pilot has promised you, not a prosperous voyage, but a serviceable performance of his task—that is, an expert knowledge of steering a ship.
And the more he is hampered by the stress of fortune, so much the more does his knowledge become apparent.
He who has been able to say, “Neptune, you shall never sink this ship except on an even keel,” has fulfilled the requirements of his art; the storm does not interfere with the pilot’s work, but only with his success.
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 32
Content:
33.
For myself, I maintain that a different answer should be given: that the pilot’s art is never made worse by the storm, nor the application of his art either.
The pilot has promised you, not a prosperous voyage, but a serviceable performance of his task—that is, an expert knowledge of steering a ship.
And the more he is hampered by the stress of fortune, so much the more does his knowledge become apparent.
He who has been able to say, “Neptune, you shall never sink this ship except on an even keel,” has fulfilled the requirements of his art; the storm does not interfere with the pilot’s work, but only with his success.