Seneca eloquently discusses how the rational soul can be afflicted by entrenched vices like greed and ambition. These ailments become so ingrained that they effectively trap the soul, leading to persistent negative influences. This metaphorical straitjacket restricts the soul’s ability to perceive things clearly and leads to misguided desires.
He emphasizes that this distortion of judgment compels individuals to chase after trivial matters with excessive fervor. Instead of recognizing what truly holds value, one becomes overly fixated on superficial pursuits, indicating a deeper malaise that obscures sound reasoning and ethical considerations.