Plain
Seneca — The Senator

"Why are you laughing at me then," you say, "when you put riches in the same place I do?" Do you want to know how different our positions really are? If my wealth leaves me, it will only take itself. But you would be lost and confused — you'd feel like you weren't even yourself anymore if your money disappeared. Wealth has a place in my life, but it has the top place in yours. In the end, my riches belong to me. You belong to your riches.

On the Happy Life, Section 22 73 of 101
Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

"Why then," say you, "do you laugh at me, since you place them in the same position that I do?" Do you wish to know how different the position is in which we place them? If my riches leave me, they will carry away with them nothing except themselves: you will be bewildered and will seem to be left without yourself if they should pass away from you: with me riches occupy a certain place, but with you they occupy the highest place of all. In fine, my riches belong to me, you belong to your riches.

On the Happy Life, Section 22 73 of 101
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.

On the Happy Life, Section 22 72 of 101
What Matters Most Human Nature
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.

On the Happy Life, Section 22 72 of 101
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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