WISDOM FROM THE PAST

From Seneca, a Roman Stoic Philosopher, 1st century A.D.

The man who submits to the goddess of philosophy will find real freedom The body once cured from an illness frequently falls ill again. But the mind, once healed by philosophy, is healed for good and all.

What do we mean by this health? If the mind is content and competent, if it understands that those "things", successes and possessions for which all men pray, are of no importance to a life of happiness.

Philosophy is a science of wisdom and wisdom is the art of living. Happiness and serenity are a goal, but virtue, not pleasure, is the road. Follow precepts and slogans with care, for they embody wisdom accumulated over many lives.

In the long run, honesty, justice, forebearance, kindliness, bring us more happiness than pleasure. Pleasure is good, but only when it is consistent with virtue. Those who make it their end in life are like the dog who snaps at every piece of meat thrown at it, swallows it whole and then instead of enjoying it, stands with the jaws agape anxiously awaiting more.

How does one acquire wisdom? By practising it daily in however small degree: by examining your conduct at the end of each day, being harsh to your faults and lenient to those of others: by associating only with those who are wiser and more virtuous than you, by taking someone wiser and more mature as your invisible counsellor and judge.

Read good books many times, rather than many books; travel slowly and not too much; the spirit cannot mature into unity unless it has checked its curiosity and its wanderings.

The primary sign of a well ordered mind is man's ability to remain in on place and linger in his own company.

DON says: This really blew me away. Imagine a man writing such relevant wisdom hundreds of years ago. Everything he says is current to the events and manners of today! If we only depended on our inner wisdom to steer the way through this life, instead of being part of the me me me generation. I have learned a lot from this short essay. I hope to absorb this all and endeavor to become a better person.