"Let's pass over to the really rich - how often the occasions they look just like the poor! When they travel abroad they must restrict their baggage, and when haste is necessary, they dismiss their entourage. And those who are in the army, how few of their possessions they get to keep . . ."
~ Seneca, On Consolation to Helvia, 12.1.b-2
I would like to note that while this first particular example does not seem very accurate today (the wealthy bring as much with them when they travel as they want, using private planes if necessary, and don't dismiss their entourage). The second example seems even worse (when was the last time the truly wealthy served in a military campaign?). The point though, is that wealth is an external, and therefore subject to loss, theft, restriction, and other limits beyond our control. The ancient Stoics tried to avoid undignified examples when possible, but the rich and poor look fairly similar when they are naked, urinating, defecating, making love, etc. - the trapping of wealth are just that, trappings, not something inherent about the person.
No comments:
Post a Comment