SENECA Seneca on Slaves "There is a proverb: 'You have as many enemies as you have slaves.' But in truth we make them our enemies. We abuse them as if they were beasts of burden. When we recline for dinner, one wipes our spittle, another picks up the scraps and crumbs thrown down by drunkards. The point of my argument is this. 'treat your inferior as you would like to be treated' ". (Seneca, Letter 47.5-11) Also see: Petronius on slaves