On the Happy Life, Section 22

Seneca — The Senator

Money cheers up a wise person the same way a sailor feels happy when the wind fills his sails, or the way you feel good on a beautiful day or when you find a warm, sunny spot on a cold afternoon. What wise person from our school — we who believe virtue is the only true good — could deny that these things we call 'neither good nor bad' still have some value? Some are clearly better than others. We give some a little respect, and others quite a lot. So don't be confused: money belongs in the category of things worth wanting.

Seneca — The Senator Original

Riches encourage and brighten up such a man just as a sailor is delighted at a favourable wind that bears him on his way, or as people feel pleasure at a fine day or at a sunny spot in the cold weather. What wise man, I mean of our school, whose only good is virtue, can deny that even these matters which we call neither good nor bad have in themselves a certain value, and that some of them are preferable to others? to some of them we show a certain amount of respect, and to some a great deal. Do not, then, make any mistake: riches belong to the class of desirable things.

Seneca — The Senator

The wise person won't hate himself for being short, but he'd still rather be tall. Even if he's weak and missing an eye, he can still be healthy overall. But he'd prefer to have physical strength too. He knows he has something more powerful than strength, yet he'd still want it. He'll endure sickness and hope for good health. Some things don't matter much compared to what's truly important. You can lose them without losing the main good. But they do add a little something to the steady happiness that comes from virtue.

Seneca — The Senator Original

The wise man will not despise himself, however short of stature he may be, but nevertheless he will wish to be tall: even though he be feeble and one-eyed he may be in good health, yet he would prefer to have bodily strength, and that too, while he knows all the while that he has something which is even more powerful: he will endure illness, and will hope for good health: for some things, though they may be trifles compared with the sum total, and though they may be taken away without destroying the chief good, yet add somewhat to that constant cheerfulness which arises from virtue.