Lettres à Lucilius Section 17

At felicem illum homines et divitem vocant et consequi optant, quantum ille possidet. Fateor. Quid ergo? Tu ullos esse condicionis peioris existimas quam qui habent et miseriam et invidiam? Utinam qui divitias optaturi essent, cum divitibus deliberarent! Utinam honores petituri cum ambitiosis et summum adeptis dignitatis statum! Profecto vota mutassent, cum interim illi nova suscipiunt, cum priora damnaverint. Nemo enim est, cui felicitas sua, etiam si cursu venit, satis faciat. Queruntur et de consiliis et de processibus suis maluntque semper quae reliquerunt.

Le monde pourtant les dit heureux et riches, et souhaite d’amasser autant qu’ils possèdent. Je l’avoue. Mais quoi ? Est-il condition pire à tes yeux que d’être à la fois misérable et envié ? Ah ! si l’on pouvait, avant d’aspirer aux richesses, entrer dans la confidence des riches ; avant de courir après les honneurs, lire dans le cœur des ambitieux, de ceux qui ont atteint le
faîte des dignités ! On changerait certes de souhaits, à les voir
en former sans cesse de nouveaux, tout en réprouvant les premiers.
Car il n’est point d’homme que sa prospérité, vînt-elle
au pas de course, satisfasse jamais. Il se plaint et de ses projets
d’avancement et de leurs résultats :

“But,” you will say to me, “people call yonder man happy and rich; they pray that some day they may equal him in possessions.” Very true. What, then? Do you think that there is any more pitiable lot in life than to possess misery and hatred also? Would that those who are bound to crave wealth could compare notes with the rich man! Would that those who are bound to seek political office could confer with ambitious men who have reached the most sought-after honours! They would then surely alter their prayers, seeing that these grandees are always gaping after new gain, condemning what is already behind them. For there is no one in the world who is contented with his prosperity, even if it comes to him on the run. Men complain about their plans and the outcome of their plans; they always prefer what they have failed to win.