On the writings of Fabianus
100:9
Book Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Book Description: The final volume of Seneca's moral letters. Common Stoic themes emerge again and again: the unreliability of fortune, the ability to form Stoic resolve, and the importance of virtue.
9.
Mention someone whom you may rank ahead of Fabianus.
Cicero, let us say, whose books on philosophy are almost as numerous as those of Fabianus.
I will concede this point; but it is no slight thing to be less than the greatest.
Or Asinius Pollio, let us say.
I will yield again, and content myself by replying: “It is a distinction to be third in so great a field.” You may also include Livy; for Livy wrote both dialogues (which should be ranked as history no less than as philosophy), and works which professedly deal with philosophy.
I shall yield in the case of Livy also.
But consider how many writers Fabianus outranks, if he is surpassed by three only—and those three the greatest masters of eloquence!
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the writings of Fabianus
Location: Chapter 100, Section 9
Content:
9.
Mention someone whom you may rank ahead of Fabianus.
Cicero, let us say, whose books on philosophy are almost as numerous as those of Fabianus.
I will concede this point; but it is no slight thing to be less than the greatest.
Or Asinius Pollio, let us say.
I will yield again, and content myself by replying: “It is a distinction to be third in so great a field.” You may also include Livy; for Livy wrote both dialogues (which should be ranked as history no less than as philosophy), and works which professedly deal with philosophy.
I shall yield in the case of Livy also.
But consider how many writers Fabianus outranks, if he is surpassed by three only—and those three the greatest masters of eloquence!