Seneca · c. 4 BCE – 65 CE
On Providence 3 ¶1 — Seneca
Translation by Aubrey Stewart (1889)
Seneca, On Providence 3 ¶1
However, as my argument proceeds, I shall prove that what appear to be evils are not so; for the present I say this, that what you call hard measure, misfortunes, and things against which we ought to pray, are really to the advantage, firstly, of those to whom they happen, and secondly, of all mankind, for whom the gods care more than for individuals; and next, that these evils befall them with their own good will, and that men deserve to endure misfortunes, if they are unwilling to receive them. To this I shall add, that misfortunes proceed thus by destiny, and that they befall good men by the same law which makes them good. After this, I shall prevail upon you never to pity any good man; for though he may be called unhappy, he cannot be so.
Cite this passage
Seneca, On Providence 3 ¶1, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1889)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-providence/3.1
Seneca, Dialogues, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887–1889). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesPreviews the argument to come: things we dread as terrible actually benefit the people they happen to and humanity as a whole, they come by fate, and a good person should never be pitied because he cannot truly be made unhappy.
Themes and situations
- Adversity and hardship
- Acceptance and fate
- Virtue and character
- Judgements and impressions
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