Seneca · c. 4 BCE – 65 CE
On Benefits 3.29 ¶1 — Seneca
Translation by Aubrey Stewart (1887)
Seneca, On Benefits 3.29 ¶1
I felt it my duty to say this, in order to crush the arrogance of men who are themselves at the mercy of fortune, and to claim the right of bestowing a benefit for slaves, in order that I may claim it also for sons. The question arises, whether children can ever bestow upon their parents greater benefits than those which they have received from them.
Cite this passage
Seneca, On Benefits 3.29 ¶1, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-benefits/3.29.1
Seneca, Dialogues, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887–1889). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA short bridge between topics: having defended the right of slaves to give real favours in order to curb the arrogance of people who are themselves at fortune's mercy, the argument turns to whether children can give their parents more than they received from them.
Themes and situations
- Family and love
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Gratitude
- Pride and humility
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