Seneca · c. 4 BCE – 65 CE
On Benefits 7.4 ¶3 — Seneca
Translation by Aubrey Stewart (1887)
Seneca, On Benefits 7.4 ¶3
“He to whom courtesans belong,” argues our adversary, “must be a procurer: now courtesans are included in all things, therefore courtesans belong to the wise man. But he to whom courtesans belong is a procurer; therefore the wise man is a procurer.” Yes! by the same reasoning, our opponents would forbid him to buy anything, arguing, “No man buys his own property. Now all things are the property of the wise man; therefore the wise man buys nothing.” By the same reasoning they object to his borrowing, because no one pays interest for the use of his own money. They raise endless quibbles, although they perfectly well understand what we say.
Cite this passage
Seneca, On Benefits 7.4 ¶3, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-benefits/7.4.3
Seneca, Dialogues, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887–1889). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesOpponents use word-play to argue that a wise man who owns everything must also own courtesans and so be a pimp, or that he can never buy or borrow anything. These are petty quibbles from people who understand perfectly well what is meant.
Older wording
- “courtesans”
- — high-class prostitutes
- “procurer”
- — someone who supplies prostitutes
- “quibbles”
- — petty objections
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.