Seneca · c. 4 BCE – 65 CE
To Polybius, on Consolation 5 ¶2 — Seneca
Translation by Aubrey Stewart (1889)
Seneca, To Polybius, on Consolation 5 ¶2
Nothing however will restrain your loving nature from these useless tears so effectually as the reflection that you ought to show your brothers an example by bearing this outrage of fortune bravely. You ought to imitate great generals in times of disaster, when they are careful to affect a cheerful demeanour, and conceal misfortunes by a counterfeited joyousness, lest, if the soldiers saw their leader cast down, they should themselves become dispirited. This must now be done by you also. Put on a countenance that does not reflect your feelings, and if you possibly can, cast out completely all of your grief; if not, conceal it within you and hide it away so that it may not be seen, and take care that your brothers, who will think everything honourable that they see you doing, imitate you in this and take courage from the sight of your looks. It is your duty to be both their comfort and their consoler; but you will have no power to check their grief if you humour your own.
Cite this passage
Seneca, To Polybius, on Consolation 5 ¶2, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1889)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/to-polybius-on-consolation/5.2
Seneca, Dialogues, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887–1889). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWhen other people look to you for strength, set an example by keeping your composure, as good generals do after a disaster so that their troops do not lose heart. Show a calm face, and if you cannot get rid of the grief, hide it for the sake of those who will copy you. You cannot help others bear sorrow if you indulge your own.
Older wording
- “countenance”
- — facial expression
- “humour”
- — indulge
- “counterfeited”
- — faked
Themes and situations
- Grief and mourning
- Leadership and power
- Resilience and endurance
- Duty and roles
- Emotions and the passions
- Bereavement
- Leading others
- Parenting
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