[One Thousand Characters a Day] Seneca, 'Philosopher's Consolation' <2>

Editor's NoteAsia Economy provides daily 1,000-character transcription content for the 'One Day, One Thousand Characters' newsletter readers. The transcription content is carefully selected according to daily and monthly themes from Eastern and Western classics, Korean literature, famous columns, and notable speeches. Today, we introduce a part of a letter sent by the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca to Polybius, who was grieving the loss of his brother. Seneca's advice that "we can make what is unimportant important, and what is important trivial" even in the face of great sorrow might have been a comfort directed not at others but at himself. The text contains 1,063 characters.

This too will surely help someone as just in all matters as you are. Do not think that losing your younger brother was an injustice, but rather consider that you were granted the favor of experiencing and enjoying his brotherly affection for a long time.

A person who does not acknowledge the giver’s freedom to choose their gift is unjust, and one who regards what they receive not as a benefit but as a loss when returning it is greedy. One who calls the end of pleasure injustice is ungrateful, and a person who thinks good things are useless unless they are present before their eyes, who neither takes satisfaction in what has passed nor judges past things as more certain, is foolish. There is no need to fear that such things will disappear.

Those who enjoy only what they currently have and consider what they once had insignificant have too narrowly defined their pleasures. All pleasures leave us quickly, flow away, pass by, and most vanish even before they arrive.

Therefore, our minds must look to the past, recall whatever pleasures we once enjoyed, and think about them often and examine them closely. Memories of pleasure last much longer and are far more reliable than what is presently before our eyes.

So consider having such a wonderful younger brother as one of the best things. What you should think about is not how long you could be with him, but how long you were actually together.

Nature did not give you ownership of your brother, as it does to others, but a right of use. Then, when it deemed appropriate, it demanded his return, following its own rules, not your satisfaction.

Would not a person who begrudges the repayment of borrowed money, especially if it was lent without interest, be considered unjust? Nature gave your brother his life and gave you yours.

Many know that nature, by its right, demands quick repayment of debts to whomever it wishes. The fault lies not with nature but with human excessive hope.

- Lucius Annaeus Seneca, translated by Lee Se-eun, (Minumsa, 15,000 KRW)