Letters From a Stoic - Seneca: Summary of all 124 Letters
We should abandon all things which merely appear to be great and that we believe to be great to find something which actually is. Seneca argues we must gaze upon philosophy as a divine sculpture that awes men whom its appearance steals.
Philosophy participates in the movements towards the goal of wisdom. Philosophy cannot exist without virtue, and virtue cannot exist without philosophy.
There exists 3 branches of philosophy according to Seneca: moral, natural, and rational. The moral part keeps the soul in order, the second investigates the universe, and the 3rd works out the meanings of words and truth. The speculative duty to philosophy attempts to assign weightage, the second duty works on impulse, and the third duty works on actions. These duties attempt to assign actions and results in a way that is consistent with oneself. All must be in harmony to function correctly.
Talk in this way to other men, – provided that while you talk you also listen; write in this way, – provided that while you write you read, remembering that everything you hear or read, is to be applied to conduct, and to the alleviation of passion's fury. Study, not in order to add anything to your knowledge, but to make your knowledge better. Farewell.
Knowledge is not this pursuit we continuously strive to improve, Seneca perhaps is arguing here, like all our other pursuits of the mind, such as status and riches.
Life is a gift of the gods, but living well is a gift of philosophy. Therefore we owe our debt to the philosophy more than we do Gods, for we can improve our debt of becoming bad more than we can from being dead.
When ruling was a service, both the rulers and the ruled performed and acted just. The subject behaved well and the greatest punishment would be a voluntary disembark from the Kingdom. When vice kicked in, however, then tyrants came and laws were required to function. The best Kingdom needs the fewest laws.
A thatched roof once covered free men; under marble and gold dwells slavery.
All things that were invented were thought to be a requirement to make one more happy. Seneca declares we have everything ready for us at birth, it is up to us to accept it. Luxury turns its back on nature in this way, promoting the vices.
In the beginning of man, when man shared the Earth as if it was not his own, all lived well according to their needs. In man’s quest for more, he lost all. Intending to enlarge property larger than the World, they were left with nothing. But they previously possessed the whole world! Why, therefore, shall we desire more?
Our houses constitute a large portion of our dread.
We shall need to inquire about situations that bring us fear. In time of a deep peace, the city of Lyons burned. Furthermore can the walls of our minds crash. Fortune gives all men an allowance of how long and on what capacity to suffer. Their destiny to suffer is determined this way. The unexpected can put the heaviest weight on our shoulders. He who has asked for another day has begged for too long a postponement of the inevitable.
We must therefore fortify our minds for whatever is to come. Whatever as many evils we can prepare, let us try! Work to confront the operations of Fortune and then decide whatever happens is of a greater path.
The happy life, argues Seneca, is the peace of mind and lasting tranquility. By gaining a complete view of truth and wisdom, one can find this. If you are not content in the things which are honorable, you desire that which is pleasurable. Man’s art is virtue itself. A man does not need all the advantages to be completely happy; it is in the face of disadvantage that we can remain tranquil.