On instinct in animals
121:20
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.
20.
Furthermore, in order that you may not suppose this to be the result of chance, they do not shrink from certain other things which you would expect them to fear, nor do they ever forget vigilance and care in this regard; they all possess equally the faculty of avoiding what is destructive.
Besides, their fear does not grow as their lives lengthen.
Hence indeed it is evident that these animals have not reached such a condition through experience; it is because of an inborn desire for self-preservation.
The teachings of experience are slow and irregular; but whatever Nature communicates belongs equally to everyone, and comes immediately.
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On instinct in animals
Location: Chapter 121, Section 20
Content:
20.
Furthermore, in order that you may not suppose this to be the result of chance, they do not shrink from certain other things which you would expect them to fear, nor do they ever forget vigilance and care in this regard; they all possess equally the faculty of avoiding what is destructive.
Besides, their fear does not grow as their lives lengthen.
Hence indeed it is evident that these animals have not reached such a condition through experience; it is because of an inborn desire for self-preservation.
The teachings of experience are slow and irregular; but whatever Nature communicates belongs equally to everyone, and comes immediately.