On the vitality of the soul and its attributes
113:18
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.
18.
Every living thing possessed of reason is inactive if it is not first stirred by some external impression; then the impulse comes, and finally assent confirms the impulse.
Now what assent is, I shall explain.
Suppose that I ought to take a walk: I do walk, but only after uttering the command to myself and approving this opinion of mine.
Or suppose that I ought to seat myself; I do seat myself, but only after the same process.
This assent is not a part of virtue.
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the vitality of the soul and its attributes
Location: Chapter 113, Section 18
Content:
18.
Every living thing possessed of reason is inactive if it is not first stirred by some external impression; then the impulse comes, and finally assent confirms the impulse.
Now what assent is, I shall explain.
Suppose that I ought to take a walk: I do walk, but only after uttering the command to myself and approving this opinion of mine.
Or suppose that I ought to seat myself; I do seat myself, but only after the same process.
This assent is not a part of virtue.