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Moral Letters Vol III

Seneca

§ Section 15

On the intimations of our immortality

102:15

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.

15.

Besides, praise is one thing, and the giving of praise another; the latter demands utterance also.

Hence no one speaks of “a funeral praise,” but says “praise-giving"—for its function depends upon speech.

And when we say that a man is worthy of praise, we assure human kindness to him, not in words, but in judgment.

So the good opinion, even of one who in silence feels inward approval of a good man, is praise.