Roman Calendar

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Second post from Seneca's "De Providentia"


Today's Stoic meditation from Seneca - that God "durius educat;" that apparent hardship is the hand of Providence shaping us for the good:
“Friendship, do I say? Nay, rather there is a tie of relationship and a likeness, since, in truth, a good man differs from God in the element of time only; he is God’s pupil, his imitator, and true offspring, whom his all-glorious parent, being no mild taskmaster of virtues, rears, as strict fathers do, with much severity.” – Seneca, De Providentia, I.5
“Amicitiam dico? Immo etiam necessitudo et similitude, quoniam quidem bonus tempore tantum a deo differt, discipulus eius aemulatorque et vera progenies, quam parens ille magnificus, virtutum non lenis exactor, sicut severi patres, durius educat.”
“He (God) does not make a spoiled pet of a good man; he tests him, hardens him, and fits him for his own service.” – Seneca, De Providentia, I.6
“Bonum virum in deliciis non habet, experitur, indurate, sibi illum parat.”

Reposted from "Florilegium Sapientiae"

a.d. V Idus Iunias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXV (Cn Caesare C. Tullio consulibus)

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