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On a similar note in Seneca's letter to Serenus (On the Tranquillity of Mind): "Even in our studies, where expenditure is most worth while, its justification d
by aglundahl 6y ago
On a similar note in Seneca's letter to Serenus (On the Tranquillity of Mind):
"Even in our studies, where expenditure is most worth while, its justification depends on its moderation. What is the point of having countless books and libraries whose titles the owner could scarcely read through in his whole lifetime? The mass of books burdens the student without instructing him, and it is far better to devote yourself to a few authors than to get lost among many."
I think it can be very valuable to go down the rabbit hole sometimes and study the author and read their less popular works. But of course, after a while you will get diminishing returns.
- kashyapc 6y agoYes! On the Tranquility of Mind is a marvellous essay. Also it is the only essay of Seneca's that has an interlocutor, a certain Serenus, who begins the essay with an excellent description of conflicting mental states he's experiencing. As a teaser for those lurking, here's a fragment of what he writes to Seneca: "[...] I am aware that these mental disturbances I suffer from are not dangerous and bring no threat of a storm; to express to you in a true analogy the source of my complaint, it is not a storm I labour under but seasickness: relieve me, then, of this malady, whatever it be, and hurry to aid one who struggles with land in his sight. [...]" --- Seneca's response to it is equally astounding. (The above quote is from "Dialogues and Essays", Oxford World's Classics; translation by John Davie.) One of my personal highlights this year: I've spent six contiguous months reading all of 124 letters of Seneca (the University of Chicago Press edition is the way to go) and several of his dialogues and essays. It's amazing how many of his letters try to shape our reading habits.