2.
Hence you see why “liberal studies” are so called; it is because they are studies worthy of a free-born gentleman.
But there is only one really liberal study,—that which gives a man his liberty.
It is the study of wisdom, and that is lofty, brave, and great-souled.
All other studies are puny and puerile.
You surely do not believe that there is good in any of the subjects whose teachers are, as you see, men of the most ignoble and base stamp?
We ought not to be learning such things; we should have done with learning them.
Certain persons have made up their minds that the point at issue with regard to the liberal studies is whether they make men good; but they do not even profess or aim at a knowledge of this particular subject.
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 2
Content:
2.
Hence you see why “liberal studies” are so called; it is because they are studies worthy of a free-born gentleman.
But there is only one really liberal study,—that which gives a man his liberty.
It is the study of wisdom, and that is lofty, brave, and great-souled.
All other studies are puny and puerile.
You surely do not believe that there is good in any of the subjects whose teachers are, as you see, men of the most ignoble and base stamp?
We ought not to be learning such things; we should have done with learning them.
Certain persons have made up their minds that the point at issue with regard to the liberal studies is whether they make men good; but they do not even profess or aim at a knowledge of this particular subject.