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Moral Letters Vol II

Seneca

§ Section 9

On liberal and vocational studies

88:9

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.

9.

Now I will transfer my attention to the musician.

You, sir, are teaching me how the treble and the bass are in accord with one another, and how, though the strings produce different notes, the result is a harmony; rather bring my soul into harmony with itself, and let not my purposes be out of tune.

You are showing me what the doleful keys are; show me rather how, in the midst of adversity, I may keep from uttering a doleful note.