Scipio Retires to Liternum
You need not seek more than you already have.
True wisdom lies in knowing when to stop.
Keep your plans to yourself, speak less, and avoid unnecessary risks.
Peace in a modest place is better than glory that brings new troubles.
Knowing when to withdraw is a greater victory than endless pursuit.
Scipio Withdraws from Rome
Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal at Zama and helped secure Rome’s survival, yet later faced political prosecution and attacks on his family’s accounts. Disgusted by public ingratitude, he withdrew to his estate at Liternum in Campania. Tradition says he refused burial in Rome, declaring that an ungrateful country should not have his bones. His retirement warns that continued pursuit of recognition can become another battlefield; sometimes peace is preserved by leaving the contest.
Meaning of This Lot
This lot expresses its lesson through Scipio Retires to Liternum. You need not seek more than you already have. True wisdom lies in knowing when to stop.
Its practical counsel is therefore specific: career: Advance slowly and rely on preparation.; wealth: Keep spending controlled and seek stability.; love: Love is blocked; do not force an attachment.; health: Health is vulnerable; reduce strain.; relationships: Support is limited; speak carefully.; travel: Journeys face delay; travel only if needed. The overall judgment is bad fortune, so act in proportion to that sign—welcome openings where they are offered, but respect every warning contained in the verses.