Epistulae Morales

Epistulae Morales

Epistulae Morales

It is good when reading Seneca sometimes also to read Gertrude Stein.

Seneca and Gertrude Stein lived as regularly as they could.

Gertrude Stein could certainly have helped to regulate the unfortunate habits of the emperor Nero but Seneca’s plays are very much crueller than Gertrude Stein’s.

Fury and folly filthily falsely forge and feign.

1. Seneca committed serial murder only in the plays he wrote and was teaching Nero.
2. Beginning reading is never the same as continuing reading.
3. Obviously blood can be squeezed from syllables and mischief sustained with revenge.

Different enough but easy to know: to drown himself in a lovely pond as if Dis sang ditties in an empty vein.
Stein: Due tie due to die due show the never less more way less.
Seneca: So much the more because so much you may.
Stein: Do, weigh the more do way less.
Seneca: If they might be wayed can sure so great a number make.
Stein: Let us call a boat.
Nero: A light thing it is to be just.

Seneca whom it behoved to think of Athens while he lived in Rome did not expect America to be as American as it proved to be. The same that declared to whom it is cruel but did Nero listen? It is said that Seneca wrote some of the emperor’s not so good songs.

Stein: He that from which was every thing then existing.
Seneca: An upset sunset or where courage outrage.

Writing plays can be a welcome destruction. Nero could have been anyone but did Seneca listen? He spent all day at the circus wishing for a cinema but as it is a show they all fall down and back bent to hell thumbs.

When not writing plays or teaching Nero Seneca wrote letter after letter as if every thought needed frequent saying. As if it were regular to regulate a life or in Nero’s understanding and Seneca’s plays many deaths. Since good if considered as an end cannot be derived from power or syntax or celebrity enemies and realists are not all stoics. Watch any tyrant’s trial on reality TV. See Nero leaving Rome with a handkerchief. Ask any member of the occupying forces what loyalty means too late. Consider if sympathy has any plays or a place.

Because the failure of diction leads to contradiction the lessons of fate are repeated. While Seneca makes scenes for Nero to ignore necessity will not of necessity cease. Later he wrote how much he may if so be he be provoked.

Fury with fire fearless and with one frenzy, a face.
Seneca: He is nowhere if he is one that is everywhere.
Stein: Surely there is the safe persuasion.
Seneca: Nothing is contenting without a companion.
Stein: If there is not any time all there is is reason.
Seneca: Something I composed in itself was troubled.
Stein: There is no example in a relation.
Seneca: A few suffice but one and none is enough.
Stein: This one certainly is often listening.
Seneca: We are a theatre for one another.
Stein: If the three are one they do not have a voice.