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Moral Letters Vol III

Seneca

§ Section 2

On the conflict between pleasure and virtue

123:2

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.

2.

My baker is out of bread; but the overseer, or the house-steward, or one of my tenants can supply me therewith. “Bad bread!” you say.

But just wait for it; it will become good.

Hunger will make even such bread delicate and of the finest flavour.

For that reason I must not eat until hunger bids me; so I shall wait and shall not eat until I can either get good bread or else cease to be squeamish about it.