Seneca, Moral Letter 39, “On Noble Aspirations”

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 “. . . the soul . . . is ruined by uncontrolled prosperity, which is used not only to the detriment of others, but also to the detriment of itself.

. . . they are the slaves of their pleasures instead of enjoying them; they even love their own ills, – and that is the worst ill of all! Then it is that the height of unhappiness is reached, when men are not only attracted, but even pleased, by shameful things, and when there is no longer any room for a cure, now that those things which once were vices have become habits.” (Seneca, Moral Letter 39, “On Noble Aspirations”)

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