 He addressed his first book of "Epistles" to a variety of friends and acquaintances in an urbane style reflecting his new social status as a knight.In the opening poem, he professed a deeper interest in moral philosophy than poetry but, though the collection demonstrates a leaning towards stoic theory, it reveals no sustained thinking about ethics.Maecenas was still the dominant confidante but Horace had now begun to assert his own independence, suavely declining constant invitations to attend his patron.