Letters From a Stoic - Seneca: Summary of all 124 Letters
Only when we are fully present can we understand our energy, our purpose, and our philosophy. Take the time in full presence to understand the mission of your philosophy.
Business is repulsive when the rewards of business are despised. Yet, says Seneca, man loves the rewards of his troubles but curses his troubles also. We find bickering at the root of their issues and concerns. Some people are enslaved, but others cling to slavery.
Put a knife to anyone, young or old, and see to it they are afraid of death and ignorant of the gift bestowed upon them. Such is the human condition. Nature has brought us into this world with no desires and fears, yet we leave with many.
Men do not care how nobly they live, but only how long, although it is within the reach of every man to live nobly, but within no man's power to live long.
The pinnacle is reached when we place our will as the most important, greatly above externals. The soul must be confident, lifted above all circumstances which arise from externals.
Without control, pleasure becomes a river in which is flows helplessly into the abyss of sorrow. The life of such a person is incomplete, as they are always waiting to start becoming the better person they can be. So we choose to be better tomorrow, not today.
It is foolish to be unhappy now because you may be unhappy later. What you fear may happen at every turn, but to that which you don’t control shall not control you and your thoughts. However, what we fear is not so grave. Fear exile or prison? How about death? Socrates discoursed in prison and did not leave when possible to help other men get over the fear of imprisonment.
Each day we lost all days prior. Our childhood, youth, all gone. To now when we live confused we wonder why, because we don’t understand the fleeting nature of time itself. The present moment is shared between life and death.
…to run towards death because you are tired of life, when it is your manner of life that has made you run towards death. - Epicurus
I do not know whether I shall make progress; but I should prefer to lack success rather than to lack faith.
In our philosophical and other pursuits, many times some element of failure may be close to the impact of our path. But that never means we should not try to do what is right.
In the aspect of reforming, we don’t need our material possessions. Do everything as if your role model is watching. When you are forced into a crowd, then you need to retreat into yourself so that you do not become influenced and become like them. If you have the rational mind that is. Otherwise you would need to seek a crowd to run from your rascal ways.
Age does not do as much damage to the mind as it does the body. The mind can declare that old age is a period of growth and prosperity. Why should someone complain, says Seneca, when powers which have a foreseen end actually arrive? Everyday our powers decrease until they completely stop working.