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Moral Letters Vol III

Seneca

§ Section 34

On care of health and peace of mind

104:34

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.

34.

And so, if only we are willing to withdraw our necks from the yoke, we can keep as stout a heart against such terrors as these.

But first and foremost, we must reject pleasures; they render us weak and womanish; they make great demands upon us, and, moreover, cause us to make great demands upon Fortune.

Second, we must spurn wealth: wealth is the diploma of slavery.

Abandon gold and silver, and whatever else is a burden upon our richly-furnished homes; liberty cannot be gained for nothing.

If you set a high value on liberty, you must set a low value on everything else.

Farewell.