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Moral Letters Vol II

Seneca

§ Section 11

On the part played by philosophy in the progress of man

90:11

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.

11.

On another point also I differ from Posidonius, when he holds that mechanical tools were the invention of wise men.

For on that basis one might maintain that those were wise who taught the arts Of setting traps for game, and liming twigs For birds, and girdling mighty woods with dogs.

It was man’s ingenuity, not his wisdom, that discovered all these devices.