Below I present one of Seneca's letters to Lucilius, available at The Stoic, a wonderful site about stoicism and responsible for the translations of Seneca's letters. At the end I added several reflections to deepen the content of the letter.
Greetings from Seneca to Lucilius.
- Your friend and I had a conversation. He is a man of ability; His first words showed what spirit and understanding he possesses, and the progress he has already made. He gave me a sample, and it won't fail to match. For he did not speak in a rehearsed manner, but rather suddenly taken by surprise. When he tried to compose himself, he could scarcely banish that shade of modesty, which is a good sign in a young man; the blush that spread across his face seemed to rise from the depths. And I am sure that his habit of blushing will remain with him after he has strengthened his character, removed all his defects and become wise. For no wisdom can remove the natural weaknesses of the body. What is intrinsic and innate can be mitigated by training, but not completely overcome.
- The most steadfast speaker, when in front of an audience, often appears perspiring, as if exhausted or exhausted; some tremble at the knees when they stand up to speak; I know some whose teeth grind, whose tongues falter, whose lips tremble. Training and experience can never rid these traits; Nature exerts its own power and through such weakness makes its presence known even to the strongest.
- I know that blushing is also a feature of this kind, spreading suddenly over the faces of the worthiest men. It is, in fact, more prevalent in youth, on account of the warmer blood and sensitive face; however, both experienced men and elderly men are affected by it. Some are most dangerous when they blush, as if they are letting out all their sense of shame.
- Sole[1], when blood covered his cheeks, was in his fiercest mood. Pompey had the most sensitive hue; he always blushed in the presence of a crowd, and especially in a public assembly. Fabiano also, I remember, turned red when he appeared as a witness before the Senate; and his embarrassment became noticeable.
- Such a habit is not due to mental weakness, but to the novelty of a situation; An inexperienced person is not necessarily confused, but is generally affected, because he slips into this habit by the body's natural tendency. Just as some men are full of blood, others are of quick and mobile blood, which rushes to the face at once.
- As I said, wisdom can never remove this trait; for if she could eliminate all our faults, she would be the master of the universe. All that is allotted to us by the clauses of our birth and the mixture in our constitution, will remain with us, no matter how hard or how long the soul may have tried to master itself. And we can no more stop these feelings than we can invoke them.
- Actors in theater, who imitate emotions, who portray fear and nervousness, who portray sadness, imitate shyness by hanging their heads, lowering their voices and keeping their eyes fixed and rooted to the floor. They cannot, however, invoke a blush; for blushing cannot be prevented or summoned. Wisdom will not assure us of a remedy, nor will it give us help; the blush comes or goes spontaneously, and is a law in itself.
- But my letter asks for your closing sentence. Listen and pay attention to this useful and healthy motto: “Cherish a man of great character, and keep him always before your eyes, living as if he were watching you, and arranging all your actions as if he had seen them.".
- Such, my dear Lucilius, is the advice of Epicurus; he gave us a guardian and a servant. We can get rid of most sins if we have a witness who is close to us when we are prone to doing something wrong. The soul must have someone whom it can respect, someone by whose authority it can make its inner sanctuary even more sacred. Happy is the man who can make others better, not only when he is in their company, but even when he is in their thoughts! And happy is he who can thus revere a man as if to calm himself and guide himself, calling him to mind! He who can revere another will soon become worthy of reverence.
- Choose, therefore, a Cato; or, if Cato seems too severe a model, choose Lélio, a gentler spirit. Choose a master whose life, speech, and expression have satisfied you; imagine him always to yourself as your protector or example of him. For we must have someone according to whom we can adjust our characteristics; you can never straighten what is crooked unless you use a ruler.
Keep strong. Stay Well.
[1] Lúcio Cornelius Sula, was a politician from the Cornelia people of the Roman Republic who was elected consul twice. He was also elected dictator in 82 BC, the first since the end of the XNUMXrd century BC.
Letter 11 from Seneca to Lucilius: An Analysis
Letter 11 from Seneca to Lucilius, entitled “On the Blush of Modesty”, is a profound reflection on human nature, wisdom and modesty. In this letter, Seneca explores the idea that certain physical characteristics, such as blushing, are inherent and cannot be completely overcome, even with wisdom.
The Blush of Modesty
Seneca begins the letter by describing a conversation with a friend of Lucilius. He observes that his friend, although a man of ability and understanding, still wears a blush of modesty. Seneca sees this as a good sign in a young man, indicating that blushing is a positive trait that should remain even after character has been strengthened and wisdom has been gained.
Human Nature and Wisdom
Seneca argues that wisdom cannot remove the body's natural weaknesses. He gives examples of steadfast speakers who sweat in public, people who shake at the knees when they stand to speak, and those whose teeth grind, tongues falter, and lips tremble. These characteristics, according to Seneca, cannot be eradicated by training or experience. They are inherent to human nature and serve as reminders of our humanity, even to the strongest among us.
Blushing as an Inherent Characteristic
Seneca believes that blushing is one of those inherent characteristics, which can affect both the young and the old. He notes that some people become more dangerous when they blush, as if they are losing all sense of shame. He cites examples of historical figures known for their blushes, such as Sulla and Pompey.
Wisdom and Blushing
Seneca argues that wisdom cannot remove blushing as it is an innate trait. He believes that if wisdom could eliminate all our flaws, she would be the master of the universe. Seneca suggests that we cannot prevent or invoke feelings like blushing. He uses the example of actors who can imitate emotions but cannot invoke a blush.
Conclusion
Seneca concludes the letter with useful and wholesome advice: “Treasure a man of great character, and keep him always before your eyes, living as if he were watching you, and arranging all your actions as if he had seen them.” . This advice highlights the importance of having a role model of character and behavior, and of living according to high moral and ethical standards.
In summary, Seneca's Letter 11 to Lucilius offers a profound reflection on human nature, wisdom and modesty. She reminds us that certain physical characteristics are inherent and cannot be completely overcome, even with wisdom. Furthermore, it encourages us to live by high moral and ethical standards, always keeping in mind a model of high character.
