Letters from a Stoic

Seneca describes a conversation he recently had with a friend of Lucilius. Seneca explains that the man tended to blush when Seneca complimented him. He notes that this is something that the man is unlikely to get over, given no amount of mental improvement can alter the physical body. Seneca names famous Romans such as Sulla and Pompey who were prone to blushing and suggests that this was not a sign of weakness but rather a natural reaction unrelated to personality. Philosophy has no solution to it, as nature is ultimately always dominant.

Seneca then moves on to a bit of wisdom from Epicurus. Epicurus argued that finding a good man and acting as if they were constantly present helps to reinforce good behaviors. Seneca agrees, stating that immoral deeds are less often done before witnesses. He proposes imagining that Cato is present (or Laelius, for a less strict moral standard); however, the exact person matters less than imagining someone whose way of life is admirable.

Seneca opens by saying that he is seeing proof he is old wherever he turns. He most recently noticed this because of a visit to a house he built while growing up.