Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 1

Desideras tibi scribi a me, quid sentiam de hac quaestione iactata apud nostros: an iustitia, fortitudo, prudentia ceteraeque virtutes animalia sint. Hac subtilitate effecimus, Lucili carissime, ut exercere ingenium inter inrita videremur et disputationibus nihil profuturis otium ferere. Faciam quod desideras, et quid nostris videatur, exponam. Sed me in alia esse sententia profiteor: puto quaedam esse, quae deceant phaecasiatum palliatumque. Quae sint ergo quae antiquos moverint, vel quae sint quae antiqui moverint, dicam.

Tu désires que je te mande mon avis sur cette question agitée dans notre école : « La justice, le courage, la prudence et les autres vertus sont-elles animées ? » Par ces subtilités, cher
Lucilius, nous donnons lieu de croire que nous exerçons notre esprit sur des choses vaines, et que nous usons nos loisirs en disputes qui restent sans fruit. Je satisferai ton désir et t’exposerai l’opinion de nos maîtres. Mais ma pensée est autre que la leur, je le proteste. Selon moi, certaines assertions ne conviennent qu’à gens portant chaussure et manteau grecs.

You wish me to write to you my opinion concerning this question, which has been mooted by our school - whether justice, courage, foresight, and the other virtues, are living things. By such niceties as this, my beloved Lucilius, we have made people think that we sharpen our wits on useless objects, and waste our leisure time in discussions that will be unprofitable. I shall, however, do as you ask, and shall set forth the subject as viewed by our school. For myself, I confess to another belief: I hold that there are certain things which befit a wearer of white shoes and a Greek mantle. But what the beliefs are that have stirred the ancients, or those which the ancients have stirred up for discussion, I shall explain to you.