On the usefulness of basic principles
95:53
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.
54.
Next, after considering gods and men, let us see how we should make use of things.
It is useless for us to have mouthed out precepts, unless we begin by reflecting what opinion we ought to hold concerning everything—concerning poverty, riches, renown, disgrace, citizenship, exile.
Let us banish rumour and set a value upon each thing, asking what it is and not what it is called.
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the usefulness of basic principles
Location: Chapter 95, Section 53
Content:
54.
Next, after considering gods and men, let us see how we should make use of things.
It is useless for us to have mouthed out precepts, unless we begin by reflecting what opinion we ought to hold concerning everything—concerning poverty, riches, renown, disgrace, citizenship, exile.
Let us banish rumour and set a value upon each thing, asking what it is and not what it is called.