• Letter 81: On Benefits

  • Mar 18 2024
  • Length: 21 mins
  • Podcast
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Letter 81: On Benefits

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  • Summary

  • Seneca acknowledges that coming across an unappreciative individual can be disheartening. However, he proposes that if this is your first encounter with such a person, you should attribute it to either your good fortune or your cautious nature. Being cautious in this situation may result in a lack of generosity. It is preferable to take the risk of being unappreciated rather than withholding acts of kindness altogether. Seneca encourages us to persist in doing good deeds despite the possibility of ingratitude. Just as sailors venture back out to sea after a shipwreck, we should continue to bestow benefits upon others. Even if some recipients prove to be ungrateful, the act of giving remains valuable. In his work "On Benefits," Seneca delves into the complexities of giving and receiving. He poses thought-provoking questions: Can someone who initially helped us but later harmed us be considered to have settled the debt? Should the timing of the act of kindness and the subsequent harm have an impact? These questions prompt us to contemplate the intention behind our actions. Quality of Goodwill: Seneca emphasizes that the quality of goodwill holds more significance than the magnitude of the gift. Factors such as the willingness to assist, the context, and the spirit in which benefits are bestowed all play a role.
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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.