SENECA’S MORAL LETTER 10

True, I don’t change my opinion. Avoid the crowd, avoid the company of a few. Avoid even the company of a single person. There is no one with whom I would be willing to share you. See what opinion I have of you. I dare to trust you with yourself.

They say Crates (the disciple of Stilpo whom I mentioned in my last letter) saw a young man walking by himself and asked him what he was doing all alone.

“I’m talking to myself,” said the young man.

“Be careful then. Watch closely. You are talking to a bad man,” replied Crates.

The depressed should not be left alone

When people are depressed or afraid of something, we keep an eye on them, so they don’t use their time in some harmful way. We should not leave those without the capacity to think for themselves alone. It is then they put their foolish plans into action, endangering themselves and others. They bring into play their base desires. The mind then displays things that have been hidden through fear or shame. It makes them bolder, stirs their passions, and goads their anger. The only advantages of solitude are not trusting anyone and fearing no witness. These are lost on the foolish as they betray themselves.

Look out for yourwell-being

Look then what my hopes are for you. Or rather, what I promise myself because ‘hope’ is a term for uncertain blessing. I prefer that you be by yourself than associate with anyone else. I remember your boldness in saying certain things and the strength with which you said it. Then I immediately congratulated myself: “These words did not come out of the top of his head. They have a solid foundation. This man is not one of the many. He looks out for his well-being.” Speak this way. Live this way. Take care nothing keeps you down.

Well-being of mind first, then of physical

As you thank gods for answering your prayers, offer new ones. Ask for a sound mind and good health. First mental wellbeing, and then only for bodily health. You should, of course, pray for them often. Be bold in your requests to god: You are not asking him for anything that doesn’t belong to you.

Don’t pray for disgraceful things

As I usually do, I am sending you a little gift along with this letter. This saying of Athenodorus I found to be true:

Know this: You are free of all your desires when you get to the point that you ask God for nothing that you cannot ask openly.

But how crazy are people now! They pray for disgraceful things in a whisper. If anyone listens, they stop praying. They are willing to say to God what they are not willing for humans to hear! Consider, then, whether the following may not be a wholesome advice:

Live among humans as if God is watching.

Speak with God as if humans are listening.

Model yourself after someoneworthy

Treasure someone of high character, and always keep them ever before your eyes. Live and act as if they are watching you at all times.

My dear Lucilius, this is the advice of Epicurus. He has rightly given us a guardian and an attendant. If we have a witness who stands near us when we are likely to go wrong, we usually stop. Let your mind have someone it can respect, someone by whose authority it can make even its inner shrine more sacred.

Happy is the person who can make others better, not only when present but even when imagined. And happy also is the person who can so revere another that just thinking of them brings calm and composure to the mind.

One who is capable of such reverence will soon be worthy of reverence himself.

Choose therefore a Cato. If Cato seems too stern? Choose Laelius, a man of milder temperament. Choose anyone you admire for their actions or words. Or even their face, for the face reveals the mind within. Picture that person always as your guardian, as your example. Let me say it again: we need a person who can set the standard for our behaviour. You will never straighten what is crooked without a ruler.

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