Daily Advice 12.12.20
Dec. 12th, 2020 12:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
readoldthingsLet's continue with Seneca's On Providence:
Among the many fine sayings of one friend Demetrius there is this one, which I have just heard; it still rings in my ears. "No man," said he, " seems to me more unhappy than one who has never met with adversity." For such a man has never had an opportunity to test himself. Though all things have flowed to him according to his prayer, though even before his prayer, nevertheless the gods have passed an adverse judgement upon him. He was deemed unworthy ever to gain the victory over Fortune, who draws back from all cowards, as if she said, "Why should I choose that fellow as my adversary? He will straightway drop his weapons; against him I have no need of all my power - he will be routed by a paltry threat; he cannot bear even the sight of my face. Let me look around for another with whom to join in combat. I am ashamed to meet a man who is ready to be beaten."
I don't want to belabor this point, but I'll say only this: I've faced many hard things in this lifetime, including violence and death. I know others who have faced similar things-- often they're combat veterans, recovering alcoholics or drug addicts, or both. I find that such people have an appreciation for the goods of life that people who have never suffered simply cannot have, and that they also have an ability to remain unperturbed in the face of adversity.
I don't love suffering and I don't wish for any more in this lifetime. I give thanks to God for the moments of peace I have been afforded, for my teachers, my family, and all the blessings which Providence has granted me. But suffering comes, nevertheless, and my prayer is that I will always be ready to face it as a brave man, ready to face down whatever Fortune has to bring to me.
Among the many fine sayings of one friend Demetrius there is this one, which I have just heard; it still rings in my ears. "No man," said he, " seems to me more unhappy than one who has never met with adversity." For such a man has never had an opportunity to test himself. Though all things have flowed to him according to his prayer, though even before his prayer, nevertheless the gods have passed an adverse judgement upon him. He was deemed unworthy ever to gain the victory over Fortune, who draws back from all cowards, as if she said, "Why should I choose that fellow as my adversary? He will straightway drop his weapons; against him I have no need of all my power - he will be routed by a paltry threat; he cannot bear even the sight of my face. Let me look around for another with whom to join in combat. I am ashamed to meet a man who is ready to be beaten."
I don't want to belabor this point, but I'll say only this: I've faced many hard things in this lifetime, including violence and death. I know others who have faced similar things-- often they're combat veterans, recovering alcoholics or drug addicts, or both. I find that such people have an appreciation for the goods of life that people who have never suffered simply cannot have, and that they also have an ability to remain unperturbed in the face of adversity.
I don't love suffering and I don't wish for any more in this lifetime. I give thanks to God for the moments of peace I have been afforded, for my teachers, my family, and all the blessings which Providence has granted me. But suffering comes, nevertheless, and my prayer is that I will always be ready to face it as a brave man, ready to face down whatever Fortune has to bring to me.
