Monday, August 03, 2026
Four Reasons
Cicero, On Old Age 5.15 (tr. William Armistead Falconer):
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And, indeed, when I reflect on this subject I find four reasons why old age appears to be unhappy: first, that it withdraws us from active pursuits; second, that it makes the body weaker; third, that it deprives us of almost all physical pleasures; and, fourth, that it is not far removed from death.J.G.F. Powell ad loc. (the heading VI 15 is an error — it should be V 15):
etenim, cum complector animo, quattuor reperio causas cur senectus misera videatur: unam, quod avocet a rebus gerendis; alteram, quod corpus faciat infirmius; tertiam, quod privet omnibus fere voluptatibus; quartam, quod haud procul absit a morte.
