Back to Some arguments in favour of the simple life

Moral Letters Vol II

Seneca

§ Section 12

Some arguments in favour of the simple life

87:12

Book Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.

Book Description: The second volume of Seneca's moral letters to Lucilius. Each letter contains Seneca's advice and wisdom won from a life of Roman politics.

12. “That which is good makes men good.

For example, that which is good in the art of music makes the musician.

But chance events do not make a good man; therefore, chance events are not goods.” The Peripatetics reply to this by saying that the premiss is false; that men do not in every case become good by means of that which is good; that in music there is something good, like a flute, a harp, or an organ suited to accompany singing; but that none of these instruments makes the musician.