The power of words.

If you understand the power of words, then it is not necessary to shout it out loud, for we need not as many words, rather only, that we impart effective words.

Words should be scattered like seeds, no matter how small it may seem, if it has found favourable ground, it unfolds its strength & spreads.

Seek & let your words find a favourable mind

One who will receive & assimilate them.

On Quiet Conversation

You are right when you urge that we increase our mutual traffic in letters, however the greatest benefit is to be derived from conversation, because it creeps by degrees into the soul.

Lectures prepared beforehand & spouted in the presence of a throng have in them, more noise but less intimacy.

Philosophy is good advice

&

no one can give advice at the top of their lungs.

Of course we must sometimes also make use of these harangues, if I may so call them, when a doubting member needs to be spurred on; though when the aim is to make a person learn, & not merely to make them wish to learn, we must have recourse to the low-toned words of conversation.

They enter more easily & stick in the memory; for we do not need many words, rather, effective words.

Words should be scattered like seed; no matter how small the seed may be, if it has once found favourable ground, it unfolds its strength & from an insignificant thing spreads to its greatest growth.

Reason grows in the same way; it is not large to the outward view, but increases as it does its work.

Few words are spoken; yet if the mind has truly caught them, they come into their strength & spring up.

Yes, precepts & seeds have the same quality; they produce much, & yet they are slight things.

Only, as I said,

Let a favourable mind

receive & assimilate them.

Then of itself the mind also will produce bounteously in its turn, giving back more than it has received.

Farewell, Seneca, StoicTaoist.