Remember: You Can Lead A Horse To Water, But You Can’t Make It Drink

<p><a href='https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/nero-and-seneca/caeace6f-f0f7-4b20-aef5-c770672bf2ef'>There is a fascinating statue of Seneca and Nero</a> done by the Spanish sculptor Eduardo Barrón in 1904. Even though it depicts a scene centuries after the fact, it manages to capture the timeless elements of the two men’s characters. <a href='https://dailystoic.com/seneca/?utm_source=convertkit&amp;utm_medium=convertkit&amp;utm_campaign=lead-a-horse-to-water'>Seneca</a>, well into old age, sits with his legs crossed, draped in a beautiful toga but otherwise unadorned. Spread across his lap and onto the simple bench is a document he&apos;s written. Maybe it&apos;s a speech. Maybe it&apos;s a law being debated by the Senate. Maybe it&apos;s the text of his essay and warning to Nero, <a href='https://geni.us/apv0na7'><em>Of Clemency</em></a><em>. </em>His fingers point to a spot in the text.<em> </em>His body language is open. He is trying to teach.  He is wisdom embodied, hoping to instill in his young charge the seriousness of the tasks before him. </p><p>Nero, sitting across from Seneca, is nearly the opposite of his advisor in every way. He is hooded, sitting in a throne-like chair. A fine blanket rests behind him. He&apos;s wearing jewelry. His expression is sullen—both fists are clenched and one rests on his temple as if he can&apos;t bring himself to pay attention. He is looking down at the ground. His feet are tucked behind him, crossed at the ankles. He knows he should be listening, but he isn&apos;t. He&apos;d rather be anywhere else. Soon enough, he is thinking, I won’t have to endure these lectures. Then I’ll be able to do whatever I want. </p><p>Seneca can clearly see this body language, and yet he proceeds. He proceeded for many years, in fact. Why? Because he hoped some of it—<em>any of it</em>—would get through. Because he knew the stakes were high. Because he knew his job was to <em>try,</em> and he was going to die trying (indeed, he did) to teach Nero to be good. </p><p>In th