“Shun no toil to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other; yet do not devote yourself to one branch exclusively. Strive to get clear notions about all. Give up no science entirely; for science is but one.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“Shun no toil to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other; yet do not devote yourself to one branch exclusively. Strive to get clear notions about all. Give up no science entirely; for science is but one.”
Explanation
Work hard to distinguish yourself through a particular skill, but do not confine your mind to a single discipline. Seneca the Younger advocates for both excellence and breadth—to become truly wise, one must master a craft and also pursue a broad understanding of the world. Specialization is valuable, but it should not come at the cost of intellectual diversity.
This quote reflects a classical Roman ideal of the vir bonus, a well-rounded individual who is both virtuous and educated. Seneca, though trained in Stoic philosophy, engaged deeply with rhetoric, natural science, politics, and literature. He believed that all branches of knowledge are interconnected and that a fragmented view of learning leads to narrowness of mind. When he says science is but one, he means that truth, in all its forms, is unified—whether found in ethics, logic, or the natural world.
In modern terms, this aligns with the ideal of the polymath or lifelong learner. In an age of hyper-specialization, Seneca’s advice is a reminder of the value of cross-disciplinary thinking. A scientist benefits from philosophy; an artist from science; a leader from history. To live wisely is to cultivate depth without sacrificing scope.
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