26.
You know that friendship should be scrupulously honoured, and yet you do not hold it in honour.
You know that a man does wrong in requiring chastity of his wife while he himself is intriguing with the wives of other men; you know that, as your wife should have no dealings with a lover, neither should you yourself with a mistress; and yet you do not act accordingly.
Hence, you must be continually brought to remember these facts; for they should not be in storage, but ready for use.
And whatever is wholesome should be often discussed and often brought before the mind, so that it may be not only familiar to us, but also ready to hand.
And remember, too, that in this way what is clear often becomes clearer.
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the value of advice
Location: Chapter 94, Section 26
Content:
26.
You know that friendship should be scrupulously honoured, and yet you do not hold it in honour.
You know that a man does wrong in requiring chastity of his wife while he himself is intriguing with the wives of other men; you know that, as your wife should have no dealings with a lover, neither should you yourself with a mistress; and yet you do not act accordingly.
Hence, you must be continually brought to remember these facts; for they should not be in storage, but ready for use.
And whatever is wholesome should be often discussed and often brought before the mind, so that it may be not only familiar to us, but also ready to hand.
And remember, too, that in this way what is clear often becomes clearer.