Fifth post from Seneca's "De Providentia"

Another of the Stoic meditations from Seneca: First, he asserts:

“No proof of virtue is ever mild.” – Seneca, De Providentia, IV.12

“Numquam virtutis molle documentum est.”

Seneca elaborates at length, but this pithy phrase sums up his contention that apparent misfortunes that befall the good merely give proof to the character of the good - and that the proving itself is likely to be brutal.

Secondly, Seneca explains that the sage cannot be compelled or forced, since he makes it his will to do what must be done. Furthermore, most of the things that befall that one might wish to avoid are part of the unbreakable and irrevocable chain of cause-and-effect; one cannot logically wish that something had not happened without wishing to undo the entire chain of causality leading up to that (i.e., negating the universe itself) - the world follows set and strict laws of causality, and the Stoic believes that this is to the good (set in motion by the hand of Providence):

“I am under no compulsion, I suffer nothing against my will, and I am not God’s slave but his follower, and the more so, indeed, because I know that everything proceeds according to law that is fixed and enacted for all time.” – Seneca, De Providentia, V.6

“Nihil cogor, nihil patior invitus nec servio deo sed assentior, eo quidem magis, quod scio omnia certa et in aeternum dicta lege decurrere.”

Reposted from "Florilegium Sapientiae"

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

Fourth post from Seneca's "De Providentia"

Today's Stoic meditations from Seneca are two short sententious quotes from De Providentia:

“Not what you endure, but how you endure, is important.” – Seneca, De Providentia, II.6

“Non quid sed quemadmodum feras interest.”

“Disaster is Virtue’s opportunity.” – Seneca, De Providentia, IV.6

“Calamitas virtutis occasio est.”

Reposted from "Florilegium Sapientiae"

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

Third post from Seneca's "De Providentia"

My Stoic meditation for today - that the sapiens considers all adversities to be mere exercises and training set for him by Providence:

“No evil can befall a good man; opposites do not mingle. Just as the countless rivers, the vast fall of rain from the sky, the huge volume of mineral springs do not change the taste of the sea, do not even modify it, so the assaults of adversity do not weaken the spirit of a brave man. It always maintains its poise, and it gives its own colour to everything that happens; for it is mightier than external things. And yet I do not mean to say that the brave man is insensible to these, but that he overcomes them, and being in all else unmoved and calm rises to meet whatever assails him. All his adversities he counts mere training.” – Seneca, De Providentia, II.1-2

“Nihil accidere bono viro mali potest; non miscentur contraria. Quemadmodum tot amnes, tantum superne deiectorum imbrium, tanta medicatorum vis fontium non mutant saporem maris, ne remittunt quidem, ita adversarum impetus rerum viri fortis non vertit animum. Manet in statu et quicquid evenit in suum colorem trahit; est enim omnibus externis potentior. Nec hoc dico: non sentit illa, sed vincit et alioqui quietus placidusque contra incurrentia attollitur. Omnia adverse exercitationes putat.”

Reposted from "Florilegium Sapientiae"

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

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)

From Seneca's "De Providentia"

From Seneca's De Providentia:

“I shall reconcile you to the gods, who are ever best to those who are best. For Nature never permits good to be injured by good; between good men and the gods there exists a friendship brought about by virtue.” – Seneca, De Providentia, I. 5

“In gratiam te reducam cum diis adversus optimos optimis. Neque enim rerum natura patitur ut umquam bona bonis noceant; inter bonos viros ac deos amicitia est conciliante virtute.”

Reposted from the "Florilegium Sapientiae"

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