SENECA - College of Stoic Philosophers

EPISTLE LXXVIII.
the limits of good and evil ; then, and then only,
life will not weary us, neither will death make us
afraid. For surfeit of self can never seize upon a life
that surveys all the things which are manifold, great,
divine ; only idle leisure is wont to make men hate
their lives. To one who roams a through the universe,
the truth can never pall
it will be the untruths
;
that will cloy. And, on the other hand, if death
comes near with its summons, even though
it be untimely
in its arrival, though
it cut one off in one's
prime, a man has had a taste of all that the longest
life can give. Such a man has in great measure
come to understand the universe. He knows that
honourable things do not depend on time for their
growth but any
life must seem short to those who
;
measure its length by pleasures which are empty and
for that reason unbounded.
Refresh yourself with such thoughts as these, and
meanwhile reserve some hours for our letters. There
will come a time when we shall be united again and
brought together however short this time may be,
we ; shall make it long by knowing how to employ it.
For, as Posidonius says 6 :
" A single day among the
learned lasts longer than the longest life of the
ignorant," Meanwhile, hold fast to this thought,
and grip it close :
yield not to adversity trust not
;
to prosperity; keep before your eyes the full scope of
Fortune's power, as if she would surely do whatever
is in her power to do. That which has been long
expected comes more gently. Farewell.
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