Seneca, Moral Letters 73.2

But that other man, upright and pure, who has left the senate and the bar and all affairs of state, that he may retire to nobler affairs, cherishes those who have made it possible for him to do this in security; he is the only person who returns spontaneous thanks to them, the only person who owes them a great debt without their knowledge. 
 
Just as a man honors and reveres his teachers, by whose aid he has found release from his early wanderings, so the sage honors these men, also, under whose guardianship he can put his good theories into practice. 
 
But you answer: "Other men too are protected by a king's personal power."
 
Perfectly true. But just as, out of a number of persons who have profited by the same stretch of calm weather, a man deems that his debt to Neptune is greater if his cargo during that voyage has been more extensive and valuable, and just as the vow is paid with more of a will by the merchant than by the passenger, and just as, from among the merchants themselves, heartier thanks are uttered by the dealer in spices, purple fabrics, and objects worth their weight in gold, than by him who has gathered cheap merchandise that will be nothing but ballast for his ship; similarly, the benefits of this peace, which extends to all, are more deeply appreciated by those who make good use of it. 

—from Seneca, Moral Letters 73 

Whenever the next election cycle rolls around, folks will flock together in their factions to glorify the politicians they believe will bring them the greatest advantages. This one promises more jobs, and that one says he will lower taxes, and a third vows to smite our enemies, whether foreign or domestic. While the faces change, the spectacle remains the same. 
 
And every year, I feel the urge to ask these zealots which of their candidates, whatever the other amenities they promote, might do the most to help us become wiser, to improve our character. I usually keep my silence, however, because I fear that they cannot conceive of trading in the currency of virtue. 
 
The wise man “retires” from the business of courting fame and amassing more money, not in the sense that he is now too old and wishes to finally indulge in comfort, but as a joyful commitment to the good of his soul. Where there is sound judgment, the flesh demands very little for its subsistence, even as the spirit should have the liberty to roam far and wide. 
 
A good leader is one who grasps the fullness of the human condition, and so he always appreciates how physical prosperity must be in the service of moral excellence. No, he will not harshly dictate the rules to his subjects, but he will encourage them to understand for themselves, and to freely discover why they have been made for one another. In this he is much like a good teacher, who inspires self-discovery and self-mastery above all else. 
 
While everyone can benefit from the protection offered by a community, it is the seeker of wisdom who has the most to be thankful for. As much as the merchant may profit from his trade, it is the philosopher who reaps the greatest rewards: he is gifted a chance to pursue the richest of vocations, without the need to constantly be looking over his shoulder. 
 
One man thanks the gods for his vast property, and another man thanks the gods only for his power to know and to love. Seneca reminds us of who is actually getting the best deal, the pearl of great price. 

—Reflection written in 9/2013 

IMAGE: Anonymous Neapolitan, Neptune (late 18th century)