These days, many of us find ourselves contemplating the nature and extent of man’s inhumanity to man, and wondering how anyone could be capable of such extreme cruelty.

As it turns out, the answer may be obvious — at least, according to ancient Rome’s Stoic philosopher, statesman and dramatist, Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, better known simply as Seneca, who wrote:

“All cruelty springs from weakness.”

– Seneca, “Seneca’s Morals: Of a Happy Life, Benefits, Anger and Clemency”

Applying that theory to the handful of leaders causing most of the misery in the world today, I can see Seneca’s point. Yet those same people have somehow managed to attain positions of power over the rest of us. So was he speaking of their weakness of character . . . or of ours, in having allowed them to prevail?

I wish I could ask him.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
4/8/26