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Moral Letters Vol II

Seneca

§ Section 4

On the parts of philosophy

89:4

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.

4.

In the first place, therefore, if you approve, I shall draw the distinction between wisdom and philosophy.

Wisdom is the perfect good of the human mind; philosophy is the love of wisdom, and the endeavour to attain it.

The latter strives toward the goal which the former has already reached.

And it is clear why philosophy was so called.

For it acknowledges by its very name the object of its love.