Originally addressed to the young emperor Nero, Of Clemency argues that mercy is the highest virtue of those in power — not a sign of weakness but of true strength. Seneca distinguishes clemency from the corrupting softness of pity, showing how a ruler who exercises measured mercy wins more loyalty and glory than one who rules by fear. The treatise is both a philosophical meditation on justice and power and a practical guide to enlightened governance.
1 chapters · Public domain
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