Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 2

Seminis modo spargenda sunt, quod quamvis sit exiguum, cum occupavit idoneum locum, vires suas explicat et ex minimo in maximos auctus diffunditur. Idem facit ratio; non late patet, si aspicias: in opere crescit. Pauca sunt, quae dicuntur, sed si illa animus bene excepit, convalescunt et exurgunt. Eadem est, inquam, praeceptorum condicio quae seminum; multum efficiunt. et angusta sunt. Tantum, ut dixi, idonea mens capiat illa et in se trahat. Multa invicem et ipsa generabit et plus reddet quam acceperit. Vale.

Répandons-les comme une semence qui, bien que toute menue, en tombant sur un sol propice y développe ses vertus et du moindre germe parvient aux plus vastes accroissements. Ainsi fait la raison : ses principes, de mince portée au premier aspect, grandissent en agissant. Ce qu’elle dit se réduit à peu ; mais ce peu, reçu par une âme bien préparée, se fortifie et croît bien vite. Oui, il en est de ses préceptes comme de tout germe : ils fructifient merveilleusement, si petite place qu’ils tiennent ; il ne faut, ai-je dit, que d’heureuses dispositions pour les saisir et les absorber. L’âme, en retour, produira d’elle-même à souhait et rendra plus qu’elle n’aura reçu.

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 and 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; but if the mind has truly caught them, they come into their strength and spring up. Yes, precepts and seeds have the same quality; they produce much, and yet they are slight things. Only, as I said, let a favourable mind receive and assimilate them. Then of itself the mind also will produce bounteously in its turn, giving back more than it has received. Farewell.