Seneca Moral essays
Seneca: “What then? Will there be no one who will try to…
“What then? Will there be no one who will try to do an injury to the wise man?” Yes, some one will try, but the injury will not reach him; for he is separated from the contact of his inferiors by so wide a distance that no evil impulse can retain its power of harm until it reaches him.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Seneca’s moral essays. The reading beside it is ours.
Someone may intend to hurt you without succeeding in the deepest sense. Their criticism, gossip, or hostility lands only as far as you allow it to become your judgment about yourself. This does not mean all attacks are imaginary. A false accusation may need correcting; a hostile workplace may need leaving. But even then, the other person does not get final authority over your mind. Their behavior reveals their choices. Your response reveals yours. Think of a cruel comment as a package left at your door. You may need to deal with the practical consequences, but you do not have to bring it inside and decorate your living room with it. The more you depend on universal approval, the more vulnerable you become to anyone willing to withhold it. Today, ask whether a criticism contains a useful fact. Take that fact if it exists. Leave the spite behind, and keep your attention on what you control.
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