41.
Animal-tamers are unerring; they take the most savage animals, which may well terrify those who encounter them, and subdue them to the will of man; not content with having driven out their ferocity, they even tame them so that they dwell in the same abode.
The trainer puts his hand into the lion’s mouth; the tiger is kissed by his keeper.
The tiny Aethiopian orders the elephant to sink down on its knees, or to walk the rope.
Similarly, the wise man is a skilled hand at taming evils.
Pain, want, disgrace, imprisonment, exile,—these are universally to be feared; but when they encounter the wise man, they are tamed.
Farewell.
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 40
Content:
41.
Animal-tamers are unerring; they take the most savage animals, which may well terrify those who encounter them, and subdue them to the will of man; not content with having driven out their ferocity, they even tame them so that they dwell in the same abode.
The trainer puts his hand into the lion’s mouth; the tiger is kissed by his keeper.
The tiny Aethiopian orders the elephant to sink down on its knees, or to walk the rope.
Similarly, the wise man is a skilled hand at taming evils.
Pain, want, disgrace, imprisonment, exile,—these are universally to be feared; but when they encounter the wise man, they are tamed.
Farewell.