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Single Idea 13559
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue
]
Full Idea
You ask what I seek from virtue? Virtue herself. For she has nothing better, she is herself her own reward.
Gist of Idea
I seek virtue, because it is its own reward
Source
Seneca the Younger (On the Happy Life [c.60], §09)
Book Ref
Seneca: 'Dialogues and Essays', ed/tr. Davie,John [Penguin 2007], p.93
A Reaction
Presumably this is the source of the popular saying that 'virtue is its own reward'. The trouble is that this doesn't seem a very persuasive thing to say to a sceptic who doubts whether being virtuous is worth the trouble.
The
48 ideas
from Seneca the Younger
13290
|
One joy of learning is making teaching possible
[Seneca]
|
13293
|
What philosophy offers humanity is guidance
[Seneca]
|
13292
|
Selfishness does not produce happiness; to live for yourself, live for others
[Seneca]
|
13295
|
Wise people escape necessity by willing it
[Seneca]
|
13294
|
We know death, which is like before birth; ceasing to be and never beginning are the same
[Seneca]
|
13297
|
To the four causes Plato adds a fifth, the idea which guided the event
[Seneca]
|
13301
|
We are scared of death - except when we are immersed in pleasure!
[Seneca]
|
13299
|
Living is nothing wonderful; what matters is to die well
[Seneca]
|
13300
|
It is as silly to lament ceasing to be as to lament not having lived in the remote past
[Seneca]
|
13302
|
Life is like a play - it is the quality that matters, not the length
[Seneca]
|
13298
|
Suicide may be appropriate even when it is not urgent, if there are few reasons against it
[Seneca]
|
13303
|
A man is as unhappy as he has convinced himself he is
[Seneca]
|
13305
|
Character is ruined by not looking back over our pasts, since the future rests on the past
[Seneca]
|
13312
|
Excessive curiosity is a form of intemperance
[Seneca]
|
13307
|
If everything can be measured, try measuring the size of a man's soul
[Seneca]
|
13310
|
Wisdom does not lie in books, and unread people can also become wise
[Seneca]
|
13309
|
That something is a necessary condition of something else doesn't mean it caused it
[Seneca]
|
13313
|
Even philosophers have got bogged down in analysing tiny bits of language
[Seneca]
|
13308
|
It's no good winning lots of fights, if you are then conquered by your own temper
[Seneca]
|
13311
|
Does time exist on its own? Did anything precede it? Did it pre-exist the cosmos?
[Seneca]
|
13315
|
To govern used to mean to serve, not to rule; rulers did not test their powers over those who bestowed it
[Seneca]
|
13317
|
Philosophy aims at happiness
[Seneca]
|
13318
|
Nature doesn't give us virtue; we must unremittingly pursue it, as a training and an art
[Seneca]
|
13319
|
If we control our own death, no one has power over us
[Seneca]
|
13324
|
Living contrary to nature is like rowing against the stream
[Seneca]
|
13321
|
Is anything sweeter than valuing yourself more when you find you are loved?
[Seneca]
|
13320
|
Sometimes we have a duty not to commit suicide, for those we love
[Seneca]
|
13322
|
Both teachers and pupils should aim at one thing - the improvement of the pupil
[Seneca]
|
21399
|
Referring to a person, and speaking about him, are very different
[Seneca]
|
22239
|
Humans acquired the concept of virtue from an analogy with bodily health and strength
[Seneca, by Allen]
|
13323
|
The whole point of pleasure-seeking is novelty, and abandoning established ways
[Seneca]
|
13325
|
Trouble in life comes from copying other people, which is following convention instead of reason
[Seneca]
|
13552
|
Anger is an extreme vice, threatening sanity, and gripping whole states
[Seneca]
|
13553
|
Anger is a vice which afflicts good men as well as bad
[Seneca]
|
13554
|
True greatness is never allowing events to disturb you
[Seneca]
|
13556
|
Every night I critically review how I have behaved during the day
[Seneca]
|
13548
|
The ocean changes in volume in proportion to the attraction of the moon
[Seneca]
|
13549
|
Nothing bad can happen to a good man
[Seneca]
|
13550
|
To be always happy is to lack knowledge of one half of nature
[Seneca]
|
13557
|
Unfortunately the majority do not tend to favour what is best
[Seneca]
|
13558
|
The supreme good is harmony of spirit
[Seneca]
|
13559
|
I seek virtue, because it is its own reward
[Seneca]
|
13560
|
A wise man is not subservient to anything
[Seneca]
|
13561
|
Virtue is always moderate, so excess need not be feared
[Seneca]
|
13562
|
It is shameful to not even recognise your own slaves
[Seneca]
|
13563
|
Why does your wife wear in her ears the income of a wealthy house?
[Seneca]
|
13564
|
There is far more scope for virtue if you are wealthy; poverty only allows endurance
[Seneca]
|
13565
|
If wealth was a good, it would make men good
[Seneca]
|