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Letter 31. On Siren Songs
- The "song" you must fear comes from every side - every quarter of the world.
- Sail past all cities not only the one you mistrust
- Work is not good. Scorning work is good. But work towards an honourable goal is good
- Good is the knowledge of things. Evil is the lack of knowledge of things.
- "Bad" sort of work still displays the spirit.
- Your money won't place you on level with God, nor beauty or strength - as they don't withstand old age.
- The soul - good and great. A god dwelling in a human body. This same soul could descend in any body - knight or slave.
- They are mere titles.
- Remember - gods were moulded into clay.
Letter 32. On Progress
- Live as if I am sure to find out what you are doing, as if I were to see.
- I want to hear nothing - that people I ask don't know what you're doing.
- To avoid associating with those with different ???? (virtues?)
- We make life into little bits then throw it away.
- Round out your life before death comes, then await in peace for the remainder.
- Time should mean nothing to you.
- Despise what your parents wish for you for those things must be taken from someone else.
- Live even after your life is complete
Letter 33. On the Futility of Learning Maxims
- What distinguished people write - can't all be summed up into simple, short phrases
- Kids learn maxims because they aren't smart enough for the full story - but older people should read the whole thing.
- Furthermore, you shouldn't only hear what others say, but also form your own opinion - that is knowing vs. remembering.
Letter 34. On a Promising Pupil
- I'm proud and happy of you and how far you've come
- If you continue you'll be a good man
Letter 35. On the Friendship of Kindred Minds
- For my own benefit, I want you to continue learning.
- Although I love you we are not yet friends.
- Friendship is always helpful but love can do harm.
- So perfect yourself to learn how to love.
- I am sure that we two will be of one mind.
- Even if you weren't in my presence just thinking of you gives me happiness.
- Find me, but find yourself first.
- To determine whether you've improved - ask if you desire the same things as you did yesterday - if it is the same it is - signs of a steady mind.
Letter 36. On the Value of Retirement
- Everything that seems to perish merely changes.
- You'll die, but life will come back to you.
- Children and madmen have no fear of death - so shouldn't we reach the same conclusion with reason as they have with their folly?
Letter 37. On allegiance to virtue
- You should die standing, unyielding.
- There's a straight path to follow.
- You should ??? the path so you don't find yourself lost and confused.
Letter 38. On Quiet Conversation
- Letters are great but conversation is better.
- Lectures are more knowledgeable but less intimate
- Philosophy is good advice.
- But to make someone learn you must talk to him.
Letter 39. On Noble Aspiration
- I'll give you the notes, but the summaries are more necessary for someone who knows the subject than the former one who is learning.
- One teachers, the other stirs the memory.
- No one who is proper is pleased with what is low and mean.
- Great souls scorn great things and prefer what is ordinary
- Those who inflict evils suffer the evils themselves.
- Utility measures on needs - superfluous can't be measured
Letter 40. On the Proper Style for a Philosopher's Discourse
- Serapio - he talks fast, too fast - this is bad in a philosopher. His speech should be composed.
- Forceful, rapid, copious speech - not good.
- Don't be too slow - bore the audience
- Still it is better than being too fast
- That speech is also empty
- Philosophers should be dignified - no excessive violent force.
- This style is shameful, devoid of modesty
Letter 41. On the God within us
- We don't need to ask God for what we can give ourselves.
- "A god doth dwell, but what god know we not."
- We feel reverence at beauty in nature.
- The same reverence when we see a man peaceful, happy in adversary, views the god as equals.
- Then he is stirred by a force of heaven.
- Such a souls good comes from within.
- Praise the quality that can't be taken away.
- It should be the easiest thing to hire in accord with your own nature but it becomes hard because of mankind.
- We push each other into vice.
Letter 42. On Values
- Your friends say he is a "good man"
- Good man = second rate.
- First rate is too rare.
- He isn't at the second rate level yet.
- You can't know in such a short time.
- A good man doesn't think of himself as such, mustn't even think he's bad.
- "But he thinks ill of evil men"
- But evil men do too
- "He thinks ill of those who abuse power"
- But he will become like them, because he seems good as he has no power.
- Many men would be cruel and wicked if only fortune allowed them to be.
- We regard things as free when they really cost us dearly.
- So question whether it is a question of gain - but also one of loss.
- "This object is bound to perish"
- Less money -> less trouble
- Less influence -> Less envy
Letter 43. On the Relativity of Fame
- Do not value yourself based on gossip.
- A good conscience welcomes the crowd.
- A bad one is disturbed and troubled.
Letter 44. On Philosophy and Pedigrees
- Don't despair for you are on your way to becoming great.
- We all come from gods.
- Look not to the source of it but its outcome.
- Producing happiness is not happiness itself.
Letter 45. On Sophistical Argumentation
- Read my works as if I was still speaking.
- Flattery resembles friendship
- Postponing living, preparing to live, looking to future
Letter 46. On a New Book by Lucilius
- I got your book. I read it
- It read like one by Epicurus or Titus Livius (?).
- I was very pleased with it
Letter 47. On Master and Slave
- Slaves are men. Friends.
- A slave who dresses as a woman keeps his master hunger and lust.
- Your slaves are equal to you.
- Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your better.
- Most men are slaves too, to lust
- Annoyance does not injure us.
Letter 48.
- No good or bad for the individual; we live in common.
- You won't be happy - considering everything your own utility.
- Live for your neighbour as you do for yourself.
- Philosophy should be useful, and not concerned with the abstract.
- Technical errors and games are stupid.
Letter 49. On the Shortness of life
- Lazy and careless. to be reminded of a friend only by something else
- I felt that about you
- We don't notice the present
- So don't claim all the time for superfluous things.
- When I sleep I may not wake
- When I wake I may not sleep
- When I leave I may not come back
- When I am back I may never leave.
Letter 50. On our Blindness and its Cure
- Everyday, be busied with bettering yourself.
- I don't like clowns. I can laugh at myself.
- Learning virtue means unlearning vice.
Letter 51. On Baiae and Morals
- Baiae has begun to be a resort of vice.
- Spirit is weakened by too pleasant surroundings.
Letter 52. On Choosing our teachers
- Why are we dragged in one direction when ??? to another?
- Plan to plan. More lasting.
- We need a helping hand.
- Epicurus says some have achieved this.
- And another class - who need to be forced and driven eg. Hermarclus.
- Who do I got to? The Ancients - who has the time to help.
- The dead, from the past.
- Look to those who lead by their lives.
Letter 53. On the Faults of the Spirit.
- You often forget and ignore our failings.
- The worse the disease, the less it is perceived.
- You will conform your fails when you are no longer in their grasp.
- Philosophy is the only thing that can correct our mistakes.
- Say farewell to other interests
- Don't only study philosophy in your free time.
- Similarly if you were physically ill.
- A privilege - to have the weakness of a man, and the serenity of a god.
Letter 54.On Asthma and death
- Shortness of breath - I experienced
- "practicing how to die"
- Death is non-existence - I've already known it.
- What was before will happen again after me.
- Death not only follows but precedes us.
Letter 55. On Vatia's Villa
- The one who has fled from society, vanished to seclusion, is not living for himself.
- But the place you live contributes little compared to the mind.
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