Clemency and Justice

Clemency is presented as a noble virtue, especially for rulers, who should imitate the gods by sparing even the guilty when it serves the public good, distinguishing a king from a tyrant.

Contrasts the cruelty of Sejanus and his prosecutors, who sought to deny Cordus even the right to die, with the natural justice of a self-chosen death.

Punishment should be administered without anger, as a rational remedy.

Seneca emphasizes that punishment should be mild and temporary, reserved for extreme crimes, and administered without anger, aligning with the ideal of clemency in justice.

Punishment should aim at reformation, not vengeance; removing harmful individuals from society is an act of reason, not anger.