On the fellowship of wise men
109:12
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.
12.
Some say that we are helped even by those who bestow on us the so-called “indifferent” benefits, such as money, influence, security, and all the other valued or essential aids to living.
If we argue in this way, the veriest fool will be said to help a wise man.
Helping, however, really means prompting the soul in accordance with Nature, both by the prompter’s excellence and by the excellence of him who is thus prompted.
And this cannot take place without advantage to the helper also.
For in training the excellence of another, a man must necessarily train his own.
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the fellowship of wise men
Location: Chapter 109, Section 12
Content:
12.
Some say that we are helped even by those who bestow on us the so-called “indifferent” benefits, such as money, influence, security, and all the other valued or essential aids to living.
If we argue in this way, the veriest fool will be said to help a wise man.
Helping, however, really means prompting the soul in accordance with Nature, both by the prompter’s excellence and by the excellence of him who is thus prompted.
And this cannot take place without advantage to the helper also.
For in training the excellence of another, a man must necessarily train his own.