Seneca Moral essays
Seneca: Let not our ears be easily lent to calumnious…
Let not our ears be easily lent to calumnious talk: let us know and be on our guard against this fault of human nature, that we are willing to believe what we are unwilling to listen to, and that we become angry before we have formed our opinion.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Seneca’s moral essays. The reading beside it is ours.
A rumor offers us two pleasures at once: the thrill of new information and the satisfaction of judging someone else. That is why we can become angry before we have even heard the full story. A friend says a coworker “said something” about you; a screenshot circulates; a headline confirms what you already suspected. Then the mind fills in the blanks with certainty. Seneca advises a discipline that is rare and valuable: do not be eager to receive damaging reports. Ask for context. Speak to the person involved. Consider whether repeating the claim serves any good purpose. Listening is not always neutral; it can make you a participant in someone else's malice. Today, when gossip arrives, resist the urge to collect details. Say, “I would rather not form an opinion without hearing from them.” That one sentence protects both your peace and your integrity.
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