Seneca, Moral Epistle 6.6-7
“Plato and Aristotle and that whole crew of wise guys who were bound to go different ways learned more from Socrates’ habits than his words. Epicurus’ schoolhouse didn’t make Metrodorus, Hermarchus, and Polyaenus great men, but their living together did. I invite you not only for your own benefit, but for my own too. We can help one another especially.
In the meantime, I owe you some little thing for the day. I’ll tell you what brought me joy today in Hecato’s work: Hecato writes, “What progress have I made, you ask? Well, I have started to be a friend to myself.” This counts for a lot, someone like this will never be alone. Know too that this kind of person is a friend to all. Goodbye.”
Platon et Aristoteles et omnis in diversum itura sapientium turba plus ex moribus quam ex verbis Socratis traxit; Metrodorum et Hermarchum et Polyaenum magnos viros non schola Epicuri sed contubernium fecit. Nec in hoc te accerso tantum, ut proficias, sed ut prosis; plurimum enim alter alteri conferemus.
Interim quoniam diurnam tibi mercedulam debeo, quid me hodie apud Hecatonem delectaverit dicam. “Quaeris,” inquit, “quid profecerim? Amicus esse mihi coepi.” Multum profecit; numquam erit solus. Scito hunc amicum omnibus esse. Vale.
Wise guys! 😸