Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 2

Hoc idem querenti cuidam Socrates ait: Quid miraris nihil tibi peregrinationes prodesse, cum te circumferas? Premit te eadem causa, quae expulit. Quid terrarum iuvare novitas potest? Quid cognitio urbium aut locorum? In inritum cedit ista iactatio. Quaeris quare te fuga ista non adiuvet? Tecum fugis. Onus animi deponendum est; non ante tibi ullus placebit locus.

À un homme qui faisait la même plainte Socrate répondit : « Pourquoi t’étonner que tes courses lointaines ne te servent de rien ? C’est toujours toi que tu promènes. Tu as en croupe l’ennemi qui t’a chassé. » Quel bien la nouveauté des sites peut-elle faire en soi, et le spectacle des villes ou des campagnes ? Tu es ballotté, hélas ! en pure perte. Tu veux savoir pourquoi rien ne te soulage dans ta triste fuite ? Tu fuis avec toi. Dépose le fardeau de ton âme : jusque-là point de lieu qui te plaise.

Socrates made the same remark to one who complained; he said: “Why do you wonder that globe-trotting does not help you, seeing that you always take yourself with you? The reason which set you wandering is ever at your heels.” What pleasure is there in seeing new lands? Or in surveying cities and spots of interest? All your bustle is useless. Do you ask why such flight does not help you? It is because you flee along with yourself. You must lay aside the burdens of the mind; until you do this, no place will satisfy you.