Letters from a Stoic

by Seneca

But I have been haranguing against Baiae long enough; although I never could harangue often enough against vice. Vice, Lucilius, is what I wish you to proceed against, without limit and without end. For it has neither limit nor end. If any vice rend your heart, cast it away from you; and if you cannot be rid of it in any other way, pluck out your heart also. Above all, drive pleasures from your sight. Hate them beyond all other things, for they are like the bandits whom the Egyptians call "lovers," [The Egyptians used the word in the sense of "knave" or "foot-pad." The word is found in the Hecate of Callimachus. Hesychius defines it as equal to "thief." It was pronounced in the same way as "lover," and in late Greek was spelt in the same way.] who embrace us only to garrotte us.