Nature's Wealth. Seneca, Epistles 3.27.9

Seneca concludes his twenty-seventh epistle with a little quote from Epicurus. Like other such quotes, this one is imagined as a bit of money used to pay a fictitious debt to his friend Lucilius. The meaning of this quote: nature's wealth looks poor to us, who generally value our own pleasure too much—so much that we fail to notice how unpleasant it becomes when we overindulge or become envious of others' indulgence. If we keep a proper perspective, one that is grateful and even happy for survival with minimal health and safety, then we fare better (in soul and body).

Sed accipe iam quod debeo et vale. Divitiae sunt ad legem naturae composita paupertas. Hoc saepe dicit Epicurus aliter atque aliter, sed numquam nimis dicitur quod num quam satis discitur; quisbusdam remedia monstranda, quibusdam inculcanda sunt. Vale.

But enough already! Take what you're owed, and be on your way. “By nature's law, wealth is just poverty done right, in good order.” Epicurus offers this judgment again and again, in different places, but something we never fully learn cannot be repeated too often. For some of us, it is enough just once to be shown the cures for our condition, but others must be constantly reminded. Farewell.