Verba Diei VIII

"Associate with people who are likely to improve you. Welcome those whom you are capable of improving." - Seneca, Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Letters from a Stoic), Letter VII

Seneca understood that self-improvement is not a solo endeavor. Wisdom isn’t earned in isolation; rather, it’s sharpened through others.

In Letter VII, he proposes a standard for friendship that is both humble and demanding: surround yourself with people who challenge you and allow themselves to be challenged. The goal isn’t hierarchy. It’s mutual elevation.

To stand still morally is to move backward. And to be surrounded by those who flatter or distract is to drift quietly into mediocrity.

Real companionship isn’t comfort - it’s confrontation with who you could be. Choose wisely. Welcome wisely. Grow deliberately.