The Death of Marcus Aurelius

The Death of Marcus Aurelius

Friday, August 11, 2023

Seneca and Nero


The expressions on their faces speak volumes to me about the inner struggle between virtue and vice, between self-control and self-indulgence. 

Some like to say that Nero was Seneca's greatest failure, and yet from a Stoic perspective I wonder if it is better to say that Nero was Nero's greatest failure, for Seneca was busy working on Seneca. Every man makes himself, and the sage can only offer a nudge to the fool. 

Peter Paul Rubens, Seneca and Nero (c. 1617) 



No comments:

Post a Comment