Seneca · c. 4 BCE – 65 CE
On Clemency 2.4 ¶2 — Seneca
Translation by Aubrey Stewart (1889)
Seneca, On Clemency 2.4 ¶2
At this point it is useful to inquire into what pity is; for many praise it as a virtue, and say that a good man is full of pity. This also is a disease of the mind. Both of these stand close to mercy and to strictness, and both ought to be avoided, lest under the name of strictness we be led into cruelty, and under the name of mercy into pity. It is less dangerous to make the latter mistake, but both lead us equally far away from the truth.
Cite this passage
Seneca, On Clemency 2.4 ¶2, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1889)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-clemency/2.4.2
Seneca, Dialogues, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887–1889). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesPity, which many people praise, is treated here as a weakness of the mind that sits close to mercy and strictness. One should avoid sliding into cruelty under the name of strictness, or into pity under the name of mercy, since both lead away from the truth.
Older wording
- “pity”
- — here, emotional distress at another's suffering rather than reasoned mercy
Themes and situations
- Emotions and the passions
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Virtue and character
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