Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 9

Haec ergo tecum ipse versa, non solum ubi de incremento agetur, sed etiam ubi de iactura. Hoc periturum est. Nempe adventicium fuit; tam facile sine isto vives quam vixisti. Si diu illud habuisti, perdis postquam satiatus es; si non diu, perdis antequam adsuescas. Pecuniam minorem habebis. Nempe et molestiam.

Médite ces réflexions dès qu’il s’agira non-seulement de gain à faire, mais de perte à subir. Dis-toi : « Que vas-tu perdre ? Ce qui t’est venu du dehors. Tu n’en auras pas plus de peine à vivre après qu’avant. L’avais-tu longtemps possédé ? Tu t’en es rassasié avant de le perdre. Si tu ne l’as pas eu longtemps, tu n’en avais pas encore l’habitude. Ce sera de l’argent de moins ?

I would therefore have you reflect thus, not only when it is a question of gain, but also when it is a question of loss. “This object is bound to perish.” Yes, it was a mere extra; you will live without it just as easily as you have lived before. If you have possessed it for a long time, you lose it after you have had your fill of it; if you have not possessed it long, then you lose it before you have become wedded to it. “You will have less money.” Yes, and less trouble.