Wider Ancient Witness Archive · 4.2 Greek and Greco-Roman Moral Wisdom Background Archive
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Musonius Rufus — Select Ethical Fragments
This text is included as a comparative, historical, philosophical, ritual, textual, or fragmentary witness. It is not presented as part of the Restored Bible.
Musonius Rufus — Select Ethical Fragments
[Selected teachings of the Stoic Musonius Rufus, as preserved by his hearers.]
That we should not heap up wealth but be content: the body needs only what frees it from cold and hunger; whatever goes beyond this is excess. He who seeks more than he needs is poorer than the man who, lacking, desires nothing.
That virtue must be practiced, not merely learned: medicine and music are of no use unless the one who learns them also trains in their practice; so too the teachings about the good are of no use unless one trains himself to live them. We are not philosophers for the sake of words, but that we may act rightly.
That hardship is to be borne: if we set before ourselves what is good and noble, we will bear toil and pain gladly for its sake, as the athlete bears labor for the crown. It is shameful that the one who would win a corruptible prize should endure so much, while we will not endure for the sake of a soul made good.
That women too can be taught virtue: women have received from the gods the same reason as men, the same senses, and the same parts of the body; and they have the same inclination to virtue. Why then should it be fitting for men to seek to be good, but not for women?
That we should do good to those who wrong us: it is the mark of a tame and gentle soul to bear with the ignorant, and to return kindness for injury; the one who repays evil with evil is no better than the one who began. To conquer anger is a greater victory than to conquer an enemy.