On the Happy Life, Section 20

Seneca — The Senator

People say philosophers don't practice what they preach. That's true. But they still do enormous good through their teaching and the noble ideas they create. I wish they could live up to their words — imagine how happy they would be! But you have no right to dismiss good advice and hearts full of wisdom. People deserve praise for studying worthwhile things, even if they never achieve perfect results. Why should we be surprised that people who try to climb a steep mountain don't make it to the top? If you're human, respect those who attempt great things, even when they fail. It shows a generous spirit to aim not just for what you can do, but for what humanity at its best might achieve. It's noble to set lofty goals and make plans so ambitious that even geniuses couldn't fully complete them. These great souls set rules for themselves like this:

Seneca — The Senator Original

"Philosophers do not carry into effect all that they teach." No; but they effect much good by their teaching, by the noble thoughts which they conceive in their minds: would, indeed, that they could act up to their talk: what could be happier than they would be? but in the meanwhile you have no right to despise good sayings and hearts full of good thoughts. Men deserve praise for engaging in profitable studies, even though they stop short of producing any results. Why need we wonder if those who begin to climb a steep path do not succeed in ascending it very high? yet, if you be a man, look with respect on those who attempt great things, even though they fall. It is the act of a generous spirit to proportion its efforts not to its own strength but to that of human nature, to entertain lofty aims, and to conceive plans which are too vast to be carried into execution even by those who are endowed with gigantic intellects, who appoint for themselves the following rules: