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Moral Letters Vol II

Seneca

§ Section 13

On the part played by philosophy in the progress of man

90:13

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.

13.

Nor do I consider this question so subtle as Posidonius thinks, namely, whether the hammer or the tongs came first into use.

They were both invented by some man whose mind was nimble and keen, but not great or exalted; and the same holds true of any other discovery which can only be made by means of a bent body and of a mind whose gaze is upon the ground.

The wise man was easy-going in his way of living.

And why not?

Even in our own times he would prefer to be as little cumbered as possible.