In one of his letters to Lucilius (Book 6,Ep.56), Seneca discusses the effects of noise and silence on study and contemplation.In the opening sections of the letter, he reveals that his current lodging is located above a bathhouse whence issue continually all sorts of irritating sounds. Seneca insists that such noises, despite their persistence, present no real distraction to one who possesses inner peace and a clear, untroubled mind (animum enim cogo sibi intentum esse nee avocari ad externa: omnia licet foris resonent, dum intus nihil tumultus sit,§5) and whose thoughts are ‘good, steadfast, and sure’ (nullus hominum aviumque concentus interrumpet cogitationes bonas solidasque iam et certas,§11).