3. The book De moribus or Monita contains maxims by Christian writers.
Views and Character.—For Seneca’s training in Stoic doctrines see Ep. 108, 13 (quoted [p. 241]). With these views he generally associates himself (cf. Ep. 113, 1; 117, 1), but does not bind himself to one school.
Cf. Ep. 45, 4, ‘Non enim me cuiquam emancipavi, nullius nomen fero. Multum magnorum virorum iudicio credo, aliquid et meo vindico.’
Especially towards the end of his life, he came under the influence of Demetrius the Cynic.
Ep. 62, 3, ‘Demetrium, virorum optimum, mecum circumfero et relictis conchyliatis cum illo seminudo loquor, ilium admiror. Quidni admirer? vidi nihil ei deesse.’
In de provid. 5, 7, after quoting Demetrius’ fatalistic views, Seneca adds, ‘Fata nos ducunt, et quantum cuique temporis restat, prima nascentium hora disposuit.’
Seneca was one of the few Romans who condemned the butcheries practised in the arena, and his views doubtless influenced Nero’s conduct in A.D. 58.
Ep. 95, 33, ‘Homo, sacra res homini, iam per lusum ac iocum occiditur et quem erudiri ad inferenda accipiendaque volnera nefas erat, is iam nudus inermisque producitur satisque spectaculi ex homine mors est.’
Tac. Ann. xiii. 31, ‘Edixit Caesar ne quis magistratus aut procurator, qui provinciam obtineret, spectaculum gladiatorum aut ferarum aut quod aliud ludicrum ederet.’
For Seneca’s love of wealth see [p. 246]. For his estimate of riches cf. De vita beata, 22, 5. ‘Apud me divitiae aliquem locum habent, apud te summum ac postremum. Divitiae meae sunt, tu divitiarum es.’