Seneca was the most eminent writer, rhetorician, and orator of his time. He anticipated many modern ethical teachings, and in some of his writings we find a strong religious sentiment, quite like that of Christianity, leading one to think that he may have been influenced by Christ and his disciples, with whom he was contemporary. On the other hand, some of his teachings are decidedly repulsive to Christianity. =Seneca's Pedagogy.=--1. Like Cicero, he believed that punishment should be mild and reasonable. "Who condemns quickly, condemns willingly; and who punishes too much, punishes improperly." 2. The office of education is to correct the evil tendencies in the child. 3. The character of each child must be studied, and each individual should be developed according to his peculiarities. 4. Do not flatter the child, but teach him truthfulness, modesty, and respect for his elders. 5. Take great care that the environment of the child is elevating, and allow only pure and ennobling examples to be reflected before him. 6. Give the child but few studies, in order that he may be thorough and acquire right habits of learning. 7. The office of teacher is one of the most important of all offices. "What the teacher, who instructs us in the sciences, imparts to us in noble effort and intellectual culture, is worth more than he receives; for, not the matter, but the trouble; not the desert, but only the labor, is paid for.... Such a man, who consecrates his whole being to our good, and who awakens our dormant faculties, is deserving all the esteem that we give a benevolent physician or our most loved and dearest kindred." QUINTILIAN[26]