SENECA - College of Stoic Philosophers

EPISTLE LXXXVIII.
begin along with the universe, or, because there was
something even before the universe began, did time
also exist then ? There are countless questions concerning
the soul alone whence it comes, what is
:
its nature, when it begins to exist, and how long
it
exists ;
whether it passes from one place to another
and changes
its habitation, being transferred successively
from one animal shape to another, or whether
it is a slave but once, roaming the universe after it
is set free ;
whether it is corporeal or not what will
;
become of it when it ceases to use us as its medium ;
how it will employ its freedom when it has escaped
from this present prison whether it will forget all its
;
past, and at that moment begin to know itself when,
released from the body,
it has withdrawn to the skies.
Thus, whatever phase of things human and
divine you have apprehended, you will be wearied
by the vast number of things to be answered and
things to be learned. And in order that these
manifold and mighty subjects may have free entertainment
in your soul, you must remove therefrom
all superfluous things. Virtue will not surrender
herself to these narrow bounds of ours ;
a great
subject needs wide space in which to move. Let all
other things be driven out, and let the breast be
emptied to receive virtue.
" But it is a pleasure to be acquainted with many
arts." Therefore let us keep only as much of them
as is essential. Do you regard that man as blameworthy
who puts superfluous things on the same
footing with useful things, and in his house makes
a lavish display of costly objects, but do not deem
him blameworthy who has allowed himself to become
engrossed with the useless furniture of learning?
This desire to know more than is sufficient is a sort
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