Stoic on wealth
Quoting the Romans always sounds a little affected, but “primus habere quod necesse est, proximus quod sat est” (Seneca Letters I,2) is too striking not to repeat it. Its form expresses what it says even better than its content. The limit to wealth is not hard to see: necessity and sufficiency. To be wealthy is to have what is essential for survival and what allows one to live and act as a free individual. It captures the absolute and relative aspects of poverty and wealth. Anything beyond is beyond the proper limits of wealth (divitiarum modus). Very simple.
Posted: April 14th, 2011 under Essays.