“Natural desires are limited; but those which spring from false opinion can have no stopping-point. The false has no limits. When you are travelling on a road, there must be an end; but when astray, your wanderings are limitless. Recall your steps, therefore, from idle things, and when you would know whether that which you seek is based upon a natural or upon a misleading desire, consider whether it can stop at any definite point. If you find, after having travelled far, that there is a more distant goal always in view, you may be sure that this condition is contrary to nature.”
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic, Letter XVI
This quote from Seneca highlights the idea that natural desires are limited, and they have a specific endpoint, which can be achieved through fulfilling them. On the other hand, desires that stem from false beliefs have no limits or endpoint, and they can lead us astray.
Seneca advises us to be mindful of our desires and to examine them closely to determine whether they are natural or not. If a desire can be fulfilled and has a specific endpoint, then it is likely a natural desire. However, if a desire seems to have no endpoint and leads to endless pursuit, then it may be a false desire.
Ultimately, Seneca’s message is about the importance of self-awareness and discernment. By being mindful of our desires and examining them closely, we can avoid being led astray by false beliefs and pursue what truly matters to us.
What are your thoughts?
