1. FOCUS ON SENECA’S THOUGHT
The role of the wise man
(the “sage”)
in human society
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2. THE TWO MAIN DUTIES OF THE SAGE
He must cooperate with the central power and help his emperor to rule over his people
He must continue to study by himself and share his knowledge with all mankind
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3. ACCORDING TO THE FIRST POINT
(About politics)
The sage must take part in governement
He must give his king tips about how to improve his governement
He can choose to kill himself if the conditions of life become unbearable
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4. ACCORDING TO THE SECOND POINT
(About wisdom)
The sage must not fear death
He must not fear pain and sorrow
He must not become a prisoner of physical passions and use reason
He must think that all men are equal
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5. (Seneca’s masterpiece)
LETTERS TO LUCILIUS
(Seneca’s masterpiece)
Who was Lucilius?A friend of Seneca’s? One of his pupil?
The Letters cannot be considered as real correspondence
The Letters contain Seneca’s main message
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6. Can we speak about the “old sage” nowadays?
WHAT TO DO?
Can we speak about the “old sage” nowadays?
No, we can’t, but we can speak about the “modern manager”
Then Seneca’s thoughts can still work in our everyday life
We can compare some of his sentences with the modern mentality
Paola Lerza – Attività CLIL

7. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
Testo latino
English translation
III,3 Dum differtur vita transcurrit
While we are postponing, life speeds by
II,2 Nusquam est qui ubique est. Vitam in peregrinatione exigentibus hoc evenit, ut multa hospitia habeant, nullas amicitias
Everywhere means nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travels, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends
III,4 utrumque enim vitium est, et omnibus credere et nulli, sed alterum honestius dixerim vitium, alterum tutius
It is equally faulty to trust every one and to trust no one. Yet the former fault is, I should say, the more ingenuous, the latter the more safe
Paola Lerza – Attività CLIL

8. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
III,6 et quiescenti agendum et agenti quiescendum est. Cum rerum natura delibera: illa dicet tibi et diem fecisse se et noctem.
And he who reposes should act and he who acts should take repose. Discuss the problem with Nature: she will tell you that she has created both day and night
V,2 Intus omnia dissimilia sint, frons populo nostra conveniat
Inwardly, we ought to be different in all respects, but our exterior should conform to society
VI,1 Et hoc ipsum argumentum est in melius translati animi, quod vitia sua quae adhuc ignorabat videt
And indeed this very fact is proof that my spirit is altered into something better - that it can see its own faults, of which he was previously ignorant
Paola Lerza – Attività CLIL

9. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
VI,4 nullius boni sine socio iucunda possessio est
No good thing is pleasant to possess, without friends to share it
VII,9 'Cui ergo ista didici?' Non est quod timeas ne operam perdideris, si tibi didicisti
For what purpose did I learn all these things? But you need not fear that you have wasted your efforts; it was for yourself that you learned them
IX,8 Hae sunt amicitiae quas temporarias populus appellat; qui utilitatis causa assumptus est tamdiu placebit quamdiu utilis fuerit
These are the so-called “fair- weather” friendships; one who is chosen for the sake of utility will be satisfactory only so long as he is useful
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10. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
XX,2 Facere docet philosophia, non dicere
Philosophia teaches us to act, not to speak
XXXIII,8 Pauci sunt qui consilio se suaque disponant: ceteri, eorum more quae fluminibus innatant, non eunt sed feruntur
There are only a few that control themselves and their affairs by a guiding purpose; the rest do not proceed; they are merely swept along, like objects afloat in a river
XXVIII,4 Non sum uni angulo natus, patria mea totus hic mundus est
I am not born for any one corner of the universe; this whole world is my country
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11. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
XXXI,11 Subsilire in caelum ex angulo licet: exsurge modo
One may leap to heaven from the very slums. Only rise
XXXIII,11 Patet omnibus veritas
Truth lies open for all
XLI,6 Non faciunt meliorem equum aurei freni
A golden bit does not make a better horse
LV,5 non continuo sibi vivit qui nemini
He who lives for no one does not necessarily live for himself
LXXI,36 magna pars est profectus velle proficere
The greater part of progress is the desire to progress
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12. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
LXXV,17 Tam inbecillum est quod nocet quam cui nocetur
That which harms has no greater power than that which receives harm
LXXVII,20 Quomodo fabula, sic vita: non quam diu, sed quam bene acta sit, refert.
It is with life as it is with a play – it matters not how long the action is spun out, but how good the acting is
LXXXI,19 Nemo non, cum alteri prodest, sibi profuit
There is not a man who, when he has benefited his neighbor, has not benefited himself
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13. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
LXXXIX,23 Haec aliis dic, ut dum dicis audias ipse, scribe, ut dum scribis legas
Talk in this way to other men – provided that while you talk you also listen; write in this way – provided that while you write you read
XC,20 Incredibile est, mi Lucili, quam facile etiam magnos viros dulcedo orationis abducat a vero
It is hard to believe, my dear Lucilius how easily the charm of eloquence wins even great men away from the truth
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14. Seneca, Ep. Ad Luc., translated by Richard M. Gummere
XCIV,40 est aliquid quod ex magno viro vel tacente proficias
One can be helped by a great man even when he is silent
CI,9 ille enim ex futuro suspenditur cui inritum est praesens
For he only is anxious about the future, to whom the present is unprofitable
CXIX,7 Numquam parum est quod satis est et numquam multum est quod satis non est
Enough is never too little and not enough is never too much
Paola Lerza – Attività CLIL