Seneca, Epistles 39.5

ID: 9F48D5AF-D697-4BF3-9A62-B9CB256AED73
TRANSLATOR: Long
CATEGORY: [[id:8D07F2BD-C53A-4551-A615-7C2FE5925A11][Desire]]
AUTHOR: Seneca
TEXT: Epistles

Desires that exceed the bounds of nature cannot but go on to infinity. Our nature has its own limit, but empty and perverse desires are inherently unbounded. Our needs are measured by utility; beyond that, what line is there to draw? So they drown themselves in pleasures, having grown so accustomed to them that they can no longer do without them. They are especially miserable in that they have gotten to a point where what were once luxries have become necessities. Rather than enjoying their pleasures, they are slaves to them…