Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit

Recently, a friend of mine was told the bad news that he had an incurable form of cancer. He was told the worst. Or rather, his parents were told and they in turn thought it best to tell him and he told me.

I don't blame his parents. It must have been a difficult decision to take. Deep within me, I agree with Cicero but would add that often it's just that we don't know. Since ignorance doesn't change the fact at all, neither should knowledge change our mood or affect us in any way.

Vita perseverat. To know or not to know? With knowledge, one can prepare better. After all, didn't Seneca say, Timendi causa est nescire? Some will say it contradicts what Cicero says but I think they complement each other. Cicero's quotation is good if you don't want to know. But if you already knew, Seneca's wisdom applies.