Seneca, Letter 44

True nobility comes from the mind

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Ep. 44.1Iterum tū mihi tē pusillum facis et dīcis malignius tēcum ēgisse nātūram prius, deinde fortūnam, cum possīs eximere tē vulgō et ad fēlīcitātem hominum maximam ēmergere.Once again you make yourself small in my eyes and say that nature first, and then fortune, dealt rather meanly with you, when you could lift yourself above the common crowd and rise to the highest happiness men can have. Ep. 44.1Sī quid est aliud in philosophiā bonī, hoc est, quod stemma nōn īnspicit.If there is anything else good in philosophy, it is this: that it does not inspect a pedigree. Ep. 44.1Omnēs, sī ad orīginem prīmam revocantur, ā dīs sunt.All men, if they are traced back to their first origin, are descended from the gods. Ep. 44.2Eques Rōmānus es, et ad hunc ōrdinem tua tē perdūxit industria;You are a Roman knight, and it was your own diligence that brought you to this order; Ep. 44.2at mehercules multīs quattuordecim clausa sunt;yet, by Hercules, the fourteen rows are closed to many; Ep. 44.2nōn omnēs cūria admittit;the senate house does not admit everyone; Ep. 44.2castra quoque, quōs ad labōrem et perīculum recipiant, fastīdiōsē legunt.the camp too chooses fastidiously those whom it takes in for toil and danger.

Ep. 44.2Bona mēns omnibus patet, omnēs ad hoc sumus nōbilēs.A good mind is open to all; for this we are all noble. Ep. 44.2Nec rēicit quemquam philosophia nec ēligit;Philosophy neither rejects anyone nor picks anyone out; Ep. 44.2omnibus lūcet.it shines for all. Ep. 44.3Patricius Sōcratēs nōn fuit.Socrates was no patrician. Ep. 44.3Cleanthēs aquam trāxit et rigandō hortō locāvit manūs.Cleanthes drew water and hired out his hands for watering a garden. Ep. 44.3Platōnem nōn accēpit nōbilem philosophia, sed fēcit.Philosophy did not receive Plato as a nobleman, but made him one. Ep. 44.3Quid est quārē dēspērēs hīs tē posse fierī parem?What reason is there why you should despair of being able to become equal to these men? Ep. 44.3Omnēs hī maiōrēs tuī sunt, sī tē illīs geris dignum;All these are your ancestors, if you conduct yourself worthily of them; Ep. 44.3gerēs autem, sī hoc prōtinus tibi ipse persuāseris, ā nūllō tē nōbilitāte superārī.and you will do so if you at once persuade yourself that no one surpasses you in nobility. Ep. 44.4Omnibus nōbīs totidem ante nōs sunt;We all have the same number of forebears before us; Ep. 44.4nūllīus nōn orīgō ultrā memoriam iacet.there is no one whose origin does not lie beyond memory.

Ep. 44.4Platōn ait nēminem rēgem nōn ex servīs esse oriundum, nēminem servum nōn ex rēgibus.Plato says that there is no king who is not sprung from slaves, and no slave who is not sprung from kings. Ep. 44.4Omnia ista longa varietās miscuit et sūrsum deorsum fortūna versāvit.All these things a long succession of changes has mingled, and fortune has turned them upside down. Ep. 44.5Quis est generōsus?Who is well born? Ep. 44.5Ad virtūtem bene ā nātūrā conpositus.The man well fitted by nature for virtue. Ep. 44.5Hoc ūnum intuendum est;This alone must be considered; Ep. 44.5aliōquīn sī ad vetera revocās, nēmō nōn inde est, ante quod nihil est.otherwise, if you go back to antiquity, everyone comes from that point before which there is nothing. Ep. 44.5Ā prīmō mundī ortū ūsque in hoc tempus perdūxit nōs ex splendidīs sordidīsque alternāta seriēs.From the first beginning of the world down to this time a series alternating between the splendid and the base has brought us down. Ep. 44.5Nōn facit nōbilem ātrium plēnum fūmōsīs imāginibus.A hall full of smoke-stained portraits does not make a man noble. Ep. 44.5Nēmō in nostram glōriam vīxit nec quod ante nōs fuit, nostrum est;No one has lived for our glory, nor is what existed before us ours; Ep. 44.5animus facit nōbilem, cui ex quācumque condiciōne suprā fortūnam licet surgere.it is the mind that makes a man noble, and it may rise above fortune from any condition whatever.

Ep. 44.6Putā itaque tē nōn equitem Rōmānum esse, sed lībertīnum;Suppose, then, that you are not a Roman knight but a freedman; Ep. 44.6potes hoc cōnsequī, ut sōlus sīs līber inter ingenuōs.you can achieve this, to be the only free man among the freeborn. Ep. 44.6"Quōmodo?"'How?' Ep. 44.6inquis.you say. Ep. 44.6Sī mala bonaque nōn populō auctōre distīnxeris.If you distinguish bad and good things without taking the people as your authority. Ep. 44.6Intuendum est nōn unde veniant, sed quō eant.You must consider not where they come from but where they are going. Ep. 44.6Sī quid est, quod vītam beātam potest facere, id bonum est suō iūre.If there is anything which can make life happy, it is good in its own right. Ep. 44.6Dēprāvārī enim in malum nōn potest.For it cannot be twisted into evil. Ep. 44.7Quid est ergō, in quō errātur, cum omnēs beātam vītam optent?What is it, then, in which men go astray, since all desire a happy life? Ep. 44.7Quod īnstrūmenta eius prō ipsā habent et illam, dum petunt, fugiunt.That they take the means to it for the thing itself, and flee it while they seek it.

Ep. 44.7Nam cum summa vītae beātae sit solida sēcūritās et eius inconcussa fīdūcia, sollicitūdinis colligunt causās et per īnsidiōsum iter vītae nōn tantum ferunt sarcinās, sed trahunt;For although the sum of the happy life is a firm freedom from care and an unshaken confidence in it, they gather causes of anxiety, and on life's treacherous road they do not merely carry their baggage but drag it; Ep. 44.7ita longius ab effectū eius, quod petunt, semper abscēdunt et quō plūs operae inpendērunt, hōc sē magis impediunt et feruntur retrō.thus they always move further away from attaining what they seek, and the more effort they spend, the more they hinder themselves and are carried backwards. Ep. 44.7Quod ēvenit in labyrinthō properantibus;This is what happens to people hurrying in a labyrinth; Ep. 44.7ipsa illōs vēlōcitās inplicat.their very speed entangles them. Ep. 44.7Valē.Farewell.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×3, indirect statement ×4, ablative absolute ×1

Latin vocabulary for this passage (213 words)

iterum, adv.	again, a second time
tū, tuī, pers. pron.	thou, you
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
pusillus, -a, -um	very small, little; pusilli: little ones
faciō, facere, fēcī, factus	make, do; iter facere, see iter
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus	say, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
malignē (adv.)	grudgingly, stingily; spitefully
agō, agere, ēgī, āctus	drive; do; pass, lead; grātiās agere, see grātia
nātūra, -ae, f.	nature, character
prius, adv.	before, first
deinde, adv.	then, next
fortūna, -ae, f.	fortune
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
eximō, -ere, -ēmī, -ēmptus	take away, remove; use up (a day)
vulgus, -ī n.	the common people, the crowd
ad, prep. with acc.	to, toward; at, near; for
fēlīcitās, -ātis f.	good fortune, luck
homō, hominis, m.	man
magnus, -a, -um	large, big, great, mighty; loud
ēmergō, -mergere, -mersī, -mersus	rise out, come up; get clear (of trouble)
sī, conj.	if
quis, qua, quid, indef. pron.	any one, anybody, anything, some one, somebody, something
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
alius, -a, -ud	another, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
philosophia, -ae f.	philosophy
bonum, -ī n.	a good thing, advantage; (pl.) goods
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
quod, conj.	that, in that, because
stemma, -atis n.	family tree, pedigree
nōn, adv.	not
īnspiciō, -spicere, -spēxī, -spectus	look into or upon
omnis, -e	all, every
orīgō, -inis f.	origin, beginning, source; ancestry
prīmus, -a, -um	first, foremost
revocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	call back, recall
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)	away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
deus, -ī, m.	god
eques, equitis m.	horseman; (pl.) cavalry
Rōmānus, -a, -um	Roman
ōrdō, ōrdinis, m.	arrangement, order, rank; ex ōrdine, in order
tuus, -a, -um	thy, thine, your
perdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead or bring through, lead, bring
industria, -ae f.	diligence, hard work
at, conj.	but
mehercule, mehercle (interj.)	by Hercules!, so help me, truly
multus, -a, -um	much, great; plur., many
quattuordecim (indecl.)	fourteen
claudō, -ere, clausī, clausum	close, shut; (agmen) bring up the rear
cūria, -ae f.	senate house
admittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missus	send to, admit; allow
castra, -ōrum, n. plur.	camp
quoque, adv.	also
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
labor, -ōris, m.	labor, toil
perīculum, -ī, n.	danger, peril, risk
recipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	take or get back, recover; sē recipere, to betake oneself, withdraw; to collect oneself, recover
fastīdiōsē (adv.)	fastidiously, choosily; disdainfully
legō, legere, lēgī, lēctus	choose, pick out; read
bonus, -a, -um	good
mēns, mentis f.	mind, spirit
pateō, -ēre, -uī	lie open; extend, stretch
nōbilis, -e	well-known, noble
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
rēiciō, -ere, rēiēcī, rēiectum	throw back, drive back
quisquam, quicquam, indef. pron.	any one, anything
ēligō, -ere, ēlēgī, ēlēctum	pick out, choose
lūceō, -ēre, lūxī	shine, give light
patricius, -ī m.	patrician, member of the old Roman nobility
aqua, -ae, f.	water
trahō, trahere, trāxī, trāctus	draw, drag
rigō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	water, wet
hortus, -ī, m.	garden
locō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	place; let out a contract for (a public work)
manus, -ūs, f.	hand
accipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	take to oneself, receive, accept; hear; suffer
sed, conj.	but
quis, quid, interrog. pron.	who? which? what?
quārē (adv.)	why; for which reason
dēspērō, -spērāre, -spērāvī, -spērātus	despair
fīō, fierī, factus sum	be done or made, become, happen
pār, paris	equal
maiōrēs, -um m. pl.	ancestors
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.	that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
gerō, gerere, gessī, gestus	carry, wear; carry on, do
dignus, -a, -um (+ abl.)	worthy (of), deserving
autem, conj.	moreover; but, however; now
prōtinus (adv.)	straight on; at once
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.	self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
persuādeō, -suādēre, -suāsi, -suāsus	persuade, prevail upon, induce
nūllus, -a, -um	not any, none, no
nōbilitās, -tātis f.	the nobility
superō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	overcome, defeat, conquer
nōs	plur. of ego
totidem (indecl.)	just as many
ante, prep, with acc. and adv.	before
ultrā (prep. + acc.)	beyond
memoria, -ae, f.	memory
iaceō, -ēre, -uī	lie, be prostrate
āiō (defective)	say, affirm; ut aiunt: as they say
nēmō, nēminis, m. and f.	no one, nobody
rēx, rēgis, m.	king
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)	out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
servus, -ī, m.	slave, servant
oriundus, -a, -um	descended, sprung (from: ab + abl.)
iste, ista, istud, dem. pron.	that of yours, that
longus, -a, -um	long; tedious
varietās, -ātis f.	variety; mottled color
misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mīxtus	mix, mingle
sūrsum (adv.)	upward, on high
deorsum (adv.)	down, below
versō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	turn about; (pass. or reflexive) move about, be engaged
generōsus, -a, -um	of good family, well-born
virtūs, -tūtis, f.	manliness, courage, bravery
bene, adv.	well; successfully
compōnō, -ere, -posuī, -positum	put together; mend, set in order
ūnus, -a, -um	one; only, alone
intueor, -tuērī, -tuitus	look upon, behold
aliōquīn (adv.)	otherwise, or else
vetus, veteris	old, former
inde (adv.)	from there; then
nihil, n., indecl.	nothing
mundus, -ī m.	world, universe
ortus, -ūs m.	rising (ortus sōlis: sunrise)
ūsque, adv.	all the time; ūsque ad, as far as, until; quō ūsque, see quō
tempus, temporis, n.	time, season
splendidus, -a, -um	bright, magnificent
sordidus, -a, -um	dirty; mean, base, of low status
que, enclitic conj.	and
alternō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	do by turns; hesitate, waver between choices
seriēs, -ēī f.	row, chain, succession
ātrium, -ī, n.	hall
plēnus, -a, -um	full
fūmōsus, -a, -um	smoky, smoking; smoked
imāgō, -inis f.	likeness, image, portrait
noster, -tra, -trum	our
glōria, -ae, f.	glory
vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctus	live
animus, -ī, m.	mind; heart; spirit, courage
quīcumque, quaecumque, quodcumque	whoever, whatever
condiciō, -ōnis f.	terms; condition, status
suprā, adv. and prep. with acc.	above, before
licet, -ēre, -uit or -itum est, impers.	is lawful or permitted
surgō, -ere, surrēxī, surrēctus	rise, get up, stand up
putō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	think
itaque, adv.	and so, accordingly, therefore
lībertīnus, -a, -um	of a freedman; as noun, freedman
cōnsequor, -sequī, -secūtus	follow up, follow; overtake
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
sōlus, -a, -um	alone
līber, lībera, līberum	free
inter, prep, with acc.	among, between
ingenuus, -a, -um	freeborn; as noun, a freeborn man
quōmodo (adv.)	how; in what way
inquam, inquis, inquit, defective verb	I say, you say, he says
malum, -ī, n.	evil, mischief
populus, -ī m.	people, nation
auctor, -ōris m.	originator, instigator
distinguō, -ere, -stīnxī, -stīnctus	separate, divide; distinguish
unde, adv.	whence
veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventus	come
quō, adv.	to what place? whither? to which place, whither; for which reason, wherefore, therefore; quō ūsque, till when? how long?
eō, īre, iī, itus	go
vīta, -ae, f.	life
beātus, -a, -um	happy, blessed
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
suus, -a, -um	his, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
iūs, iūris, n.	right, justice, law; iūs dīcere, to pronounce judgment; iūs iūrandum, iūris iūrandī, oath
dēprāvō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	distort; corrupt, lead astray
enim, conj.	for
ergō (adv.)	therefore, then; quid ergō? what then?
errō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	wander, stray; be mistaken
optō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	wish for, desire; pray for
īnstrūmentum, -ī n.	tool, equipment; pl. gear, baggage
prō, prep. with abl.	before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	have, hold; consider
dum, conj.	while, as; as long as; until
petō, -ere, -īvī or -iī, -ītus	seek, ask; attack
fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrus	flee, run away
nam, conj.	for
summa, -ae f.	total, sum; supreme command
solidus, -a, -um	whole, complete, solid
sēcūritās, -ātis f.	freedom from care, composure
inconcussus, -a, -um	unshaken, firm, undisturbed
fīdūcia, -ae f.	confidence, trust, reliance
sollicitūdō, -tūdinis, f.	anxiety, care, apprehension
colligō, -ere, -lēgī, -lēctum	gather, collect (sē colligere: recover oneself)
causa, -ae, f.	cause, reason; abl. causā, for the sake of
per, prep, with ace.	through, by means of
īnsidiōsus, -a, -um	treacherous, full of traps
iter, itineris, n.	a going, journey, march; iter facere, to journey, march
tantum, adv.	so much or far, only
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātus	bear, bring
sarcina, -ae f.	pack; (pl.) soldiers' kit
ita, adv.	in this manner, thus, so; ita ut, as
longē, adv.	far
effectus, -ūs m.	result, accomplishment, success
semper, adv.	always
abscēdō, -ere, -cessī, -cessum	go away, withdraw
plūs (adv.)	more
opera, -ae, f.	effort, work, labor
impendō, -ere, -pendī, -pēnsus	spend, devote (time, money, effort)
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.	himself, herself, itself, themselves
magis, comp. adv.	more, rather
impediō, -pedīre, -pedīvī, -pedītus	hinder, prevent, impede
retrō (adv.)	backwards, behind, from behind
ēveniō, -venīre, -vēnī, -ventus	come out; turn out, happen, befall
properō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	hasten
vēlōcitās, -ātis f.	speed, swiftness
implicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	entangle, entwine; involve
valeō, -ēre, -uī, -itūrus	be strong or effectual, have effect, prevail

Seneca, Epistulae Morales 2–52. Latin text: R. M. Gummere, Seneca: Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales (Loeb, 1917–25), public domain; digital text from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English translation and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.