17. “What,” you say, “does the ’morrow never play me false’?
Whatever happens without my knowledge plays me false.” I, for my part, do not know what is to be, but I do know what may come to be.
I shall have no misgivings in this matter; I await the future in its entirety; and if there is any abatement in its severity, I make the most of it.
If the morrow treats me kindly, it is a sort of deception; but it does not deceive me even at that.
For just as I know that all things can happen, so I know, too, that they will not happen in every case.
I am ready for favourable events in every case, but I am prepared for evil.
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On liberal and vocational studies
Location: Chapter 88, Section 17
Content:
17. “What,” you say, “does the ’morrow never play me false’?
Whatever happens without my knowledge plays me false.” I, for my part, do not know what is to be, but I do know what may come to be.
I shall have no misgivings in this matter; I await the future in its entirety; and if there is any abatement in its severity, I make the most of it.
If the morrow treats me kindly, it is a sort of deception; but it does not deceive me even at that.
For just as I know that all things can happen, so I know, too, that they will not happen in every case.
I am ready for favourable events in every case, but I am prepared for evil.