1.
The question has often been raised whether it is better to have moderate emotions, or none at all.
Philosophers of our school reject the emotions; the Peripatetics keep them in check.
I, however, do not understand how any half-way disease can be either wholesome or helpful.
Do not fear; I am not robbing you of any privileges which you are unwilling to lose!
I shall be kindly and indulgent towards the objects for which you strive—those which you hold to be necessary to our existence, or useful, or pleasant; I shall simply strip away the vice.
For after I have issued my prohibition against the desires, I shall still allow you to wish that you may do the same things fearlessly and with greater accuracy of judgment, and to feel even the pleasures more than before; and how can these pleasures help coming more readily to your call, if you are their lord rather than their slave!
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On self-control
Location: Chapter 116, Section 1
Content:
1.
The question has often been raised whether it is better to have moderate emotions, or none at all.
Philosophers of our school reject the emotions; the Peripatetics keep them in check.
I, however, do not understand how any half-way disease can be either wholesome or helpful.
Do not fear; I am not robbing you of any privileges which you are unwilling to lose!
I shall be kindly and indulgent towards the objects for which you strive—those which you hold to be necessary to our existence, or useful, or pleasant; I shall simply strip away the vice.
For after I have issued my prohibition against the desires, I shall still allow you to wish that you may do the same things fearlessly and with greater accuracy of judgment, and to feel even the pleasures more than before; and how can these pleasures help coming more readily to your call, if you are their lord rather than their slave!