Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

SENECA IN RETIREMENT 119it worships. As well deny the existence of godsas report so vilely of their character. Thereis no hope for the sick man whom his physicianurges to intemperance.^One fruit of retirement, especiallyto Seneca'staste, was the increased opportunities which itbrought him of intercourse with his friends.Throughout his life he had cultivated friendshipwith chosen men of every rank, and he had ahigh idea of all that was implied in the term.a man toConsider long [he writes] before admittingbe your friend, but when you have done so, admit himto your heart of hearts, speak as freelyto him as toyourself.Do you indeed so live as to entrust nothingto yourself which you would be ashamed to confide evento an enemy yet since there are things which we are;accustomed to keep secret, share with your friend allyour cares, allyour thoughts. Ifyou think him faithfulyouwill make him so.^The wise man, even if sufficient unto himself, wishesto have a friend ;if on no other account yet that hemay practise friendship not for the reasons Epicurus, . .have someone to nurse him whengives, that he mayill or to succour him when in prison or in want, but thathe may himself have someone to nurse, or to liberatewhen a prisoner. He who regards himself and for hisown sake seeks for friendship is in error as it has;begun,so will it end. He has prepared a friend to bring himaid when in chains, at the first clank that friend willleave him. . . . You begin a friendship for your ownadvantage, if a greater advantage offers youwill breakit, because you have looked for a reward outside itself.Wherefore do I make myself a friend ? To have onefor whom I can die, whom I can follow into exile, forwhose life I may risk and spend my own.^1Ep. 123.»Ep. 3.*Ep. 9.