Sunday, August 20, 2017

August 20th Reading from The Daily Stoic - Where It Counts


"Inwardly, we ought to be different in every respect, but outward dress should blend in with the crowd."

~ Seneca, Moral Letters, 5.2

My note: This is a bigger debate in Stoicism than one might think. Even in Seneca's day there were people adopting outlandish clothing as a "uniform" - threadbare togas to show unconcern about worldly things, etc. A couple of generations before him, Cato the Younger was a Stoic and went about in a toga of unbleached wool. without a tunic under it, for similar reasons. I have seen someone on a modern message board wonder whether modern Stoics should adopt togas or something. Seneca's point here is that while Stoicism changes the way we are in our minds, there is no need for outward display. Just wear your normal clothes.


No comments:

Post a Comment