2.
The wise man’s mind, to be sure, embraces the whole framework of philosophy, surveying it with no less rapid glance than our mortal eyes survey the heavens; we, however, who must break through the gloom, we whose vision fails even for that which is near at hand, can be shown with greater ease each separate object even though we cannot yet comprehend the universe.
I shall therefore comply with your demand, and shall divide philosophy into parts, but not into scraps.
For it is useful that philosophy should be divided, but not chopped into bits.
Just as it is hard to take in what is indefinitely large, so it is hard to take in what is indefinitely small.
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the parts of philosophy
Location: Chapter 89, Section 2
Content:
2.
The wise man’s mind, to be sure, embraces the whole framework of philosophy, surveying it with no less rapid glance than our mortal eyes survey the heavens; we, however, who must break through the gloom, we whose vision fails even for that which is near at hand, can be shown with greater ease each separate object even though we cannot yet comprehend the universe.
I shall therefore comply with your demand, and shall divide philosophy into parts, but not into scraps.
For it is useful that philosophy should be divided, but not chopped into bits.
Just as it is hard to take in what is indefinitely large, so it is hard to take in what is indefinitely small.