Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

Selections from the Writings of Seneca
Those favors are most gratifying to us that are de
liberately and willingly offered, and in connection
with which the only hesitancy is on the part of the
recipient.
I do not make the favors I confer a matter of
lic record.
pub
He who intends to be grateful ought to think
about requiting a favor as soon as he receives it.
This is the law of beneficence between two per
sons: the one should forthwith forget that he has
given; the other should never forget
ceived.
that he has re
You buy from the physician a thing
that is above
price, life and health; from the teacher of belles- lettres,
acquaintance with the liberal arts. Yet it is not the
value of these things that you pay for but their pains,
because when they are serving us they give up their
private business to devote themselves to
The sun rises for the evil also.
God has given certain benefactions to all men, and
from which none are excluded.
Who is so wretched, so despised, who born to so
hard and sorrowful a destiny that he has never per
ceived the munificence of the gods? Seek out even
those who bewail their fate and who are always com
plaining, you will not find among the entire number
one who has not experienced the beneficence of hea
us.
ven; there is not one for whom there has not flowed
73