Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

Seneca: His Character and Environment
resorted to self-destruction ns a release from misfor
tune strikes us with surprise. Suicide is often men
tioned in the writings of Seneca, and always with ap
proval. It is not hard to understand this attitude of
mind if we recollect the relation the Roman regarded
as existing between himself and the state. The gov
ernment was in a sense a part of himself, and an
essential part. To the Greek there was still some
thing worth living for after the loss of country and
citizenship. He could devote himself to literature 1 , or
philosophy, or to some more ignoble means of gain
ing a livelihood. To the Roman such a thing was
well-nigh impossible, especially if lie was a member
of one of the ruling families. Exile, exclusion from
service in the state, was to him the end of every thing.
Many Romans of whom one would have expected
better things are inconsolable so long as they are
compelled to live away from the capital
many
with no cer
tain prospect of return. Need we wonder that to
others life was no longer worth living, and that
they freely put
an end to it with their own hand.
Often the best men sought surcease of
unnatural way.
sorrow in this
Those in whom the moral sense was
weak, plunged recklessly into debauchery and sensual
gratification. Literature, too. was corrupted to minis
ter to their corrupt tastes. We know little of the life
of the average Roman citizen; but there is sufficient
evidence within reach of the modern reader to prove
that the ruling class had few redeeming traits. The
downward tendency is plainly discernible in the last
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