Wandering in the Ruined Stoa

Philosophy has the single task of discovering the truth about the divine and human worlds. The religious conscience, the sense of duty, justice and all the rest of the close-knit, interdependent "company of virtues," never leave her side. Philosophy has taught men to worship what is divine, to love what is human, telling us that with the gods belongs authority, and among human beings fellowship. That fellowship lasted for a long time intact, before men's greed broke society up--and impoverished even those she had brought most riches; for people cease to possess everything as soon as they want everything for themselves.

Seneca the Younger, Letters to Lucilius, XC.