No good thing is a joy to keep to yourself.
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 6.4
nullius boni sine socio iucunda possessio est
No good thing is a joy to keep to yourself.
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 6.4
What it means
Seneca says he would refuse wisdom itself if he had to keep it locked up. Good things grow when they are shared. Pass on what you learn and what you enjoy.
The source
"No good thing is a joy to keep to yourself." Seneca said it in Letters to Lucilius 6.4. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
"nullius boni sine socio iucunda possessio est"Original Latin, Letters to Lucilius 6.4. Text read at thelatinlibrary.com.
Who said it
Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). Stoic philosopher, playwright and adviser to the emperor Nero. His letters to his friend Lucilius are the most readable handbook of Stoicism ever written.
Questions
- What does "No good thing is a joy to keep to yourself." mean?
- Seneca says he would refuse wisdom itself if he had to keep it locked up. Good things grow when they are shared. Pass on what you learn and what you enjoy.
- Who said "No good thing is a joy to keep to yourself."?
- Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). Source: Letters to Lucilius 6.4.
- What is the original Latin?
- nullius boni sine socio iucunda possessio est. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "No good thing is a joy to keep to yourself." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"No good thing is a joy to keep to yourself." (Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 6.4, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/no-good-thing-is-a-joy-to-keep
Filed under Quotes about character and Stoic quotes.
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More from Seneca
- Claim yourself back.Letters to Lucilius 1.1
- Most of life slips away doing nothing, or the wrong thing.Letters to Lucilius 1.1
- While you put life off, it runs past.Letters to Lucilius 1.3
- Nothing is truly yours except your time.Letters to Lucilius 1.3
- Be everywhere and you are nowhere.Letters to Lucilius 2.2
- Poor is not having little. Poor is wanting more.Letters to Lucilius 2.6