Seneca, Moral Letters 15.2

Accordingly, limit the flesh as much as possible, and allow free play to the spirit. Many inconveniences beset those who devote themselves to such pursuits. 

 

In the first place, they have their exercises, at which they must work and waste their life-force and render it less fit to bear a strain or the severer studies. 

 

Second, their keen edge is dulled by heavy eating. Besides, they must take orders from slaves of the vilest stamp—men who alternate between the oil-flask and the flagon, whose day passes satisfactorily if they have got up a good perspiration and quaffed, to make good what they have lost in sweat, huge draughts of liquor which will sink deeper because of their fasting. 

 

Drinking and sweating—it's the life of a dyspeptic!

 

If I ever dare to suggest that we could spend a bit less of our time and energy grooming, exercising, and decorating our bodies, some people become quite upset.

 

“What, do you want to be a dirty, fat, wheezing slob?” 

 

Not at all, but I also recognize that no amount of glowing skin, rippling muscles, and fabulous hair will do me an ounce of good if I don’t first have a properly formed conscience. Did you, pray tell, commit at least as much effort today to working on your compassion as you did to sculpting your calves? 

 

No, I didn’t think so. Such thinking will be alien to someone for whom the gratification of the body is paramount, and for whom the formation of character is at best a matter of social posturing. 

 

I knew a fellow once, admittedly a bit rough around the edges but the sort of man you could trust, who regularly expressed his bewilderment at the ridiculous amounts of money people spent on what he was convinced should already be part of a regular day. 

 

“If you need to buy an exercise bike for your garage, or join an expensive gym, you should find a better line of work that gets you up and moving.” He was built like an ox, and it all came from delivering the mail every day for twenty years. 

 

Building a healthy body will not be of such great difficulty if I first build a healthy mind, which provides the commitment and temperance necessary to live with vigor and modesty. The craving for fads and gimmicks falls away when I have my house in order. 

 

Otherwise, what they call “staying in shape” demands all sorts of ridiculous extremes, which serve as diversions from the vocation of just being a calm, balanced, and decent human being. Frantic hours are spent in grueling regimens, or on fantasy diets that swing wildly from gorging to starvation. The anxiety this produces helps neither the soul nor the body. 

 

I can’t help but notice how the worshippers of the flesh become awfully cranky and miserable while doing something that’s supposed to make them happy. 

Written in 7/2012