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Produce something from your own resources. He was the Cardinal Richelieu behind Nero. How much longer are you going to serve under others. Gregory Hays once said about Marcus Aurelius that "not being a tyrant was something he had to work at one day at a time" and often, Seneca lost that battle.
However, there is some interesting evidence put forth in a paper titled - Seneca: The Case of the Opulent Stoic in which Lydia Motto presents that what we know of Seneca's reputation comes almost entirely from a single, less than objective source. I could show you a man who has been a Consul who is a slave to his 'little old woman', a millionaire who is the slave of a little girl in domestic service. And there is no state of slavery more disgraceful than one which is self-imposed. On quoting what you read: There is no enjoying the possession of anything valuable unless one has someone to share it with. I tore this book to pieces. My copy is overflowing with tabbed pages and highlighted lines and notes in the margins. And in fact, if we can trust the way in which Seneca faced his forced suicide there was not much difference between practice and philosophy. 'Cleanthes said that.' What have you said.
'Zeno said this.' And what have you said. On endurance: Life's no soft affair. I shall send you, accordingly, the actual books themselves, and to save you a lot of trouble hunting all over the place for passages likely to be of use to you, I shall mark the passages so that you can turn straight away to the words I approve and admire." On freedom from perturbation: Show me a man who isn't a slave; one who is a slave to sex, another to money, another to ambition; all are slaves to hope or fear. The book is profoundly insightful, it calls you to action, and it has that 'quit your whining--this is life' attitude that so defines the Roman Stoics. It's a long road you've started on: you can't but expect to have slips and knocks and falls, and get tired and openly wish--a lie--for death.
Seneca of course, is a fascinating figure. Assume authority over yourself and utter something that may be handed down to posterity. It is disgraceful that a man who is old or in sight of old age should have wisdom deriving solely from his notebook. He sat back and enjoyed the spoils of his student who had clearly lost his way--at least Aristotle didn't profit from Alexander's lust for power. This is by no means an all inclusive list but is Seneca on some important topics:On doing more than consuming: He should be delivering himself of such sayings, not memorizing them.
our modern world, and Seneca gets lots of play from those counter-thinkers out there.Enjoyable, thought-provoking and worth your time, again and again. The letters are clear, accessible, filled with wisdom and a roadmap for Stoic thought. Seneca gets attention because the writing is so clear to us now, even written centuries ago.The appeal is in the juxtaposition of this thought vs.
Firstly an "analysis of the issue", secondly a discussion of the "remedy/s". Yet low and behold when our circumstances suffer an unexpected turn for the worse and we need them, they are nowhere to be found. Each letter is basically two parts. Quote: ".no one is so old that it would it would be quite unnatural for him to hope for one more day."Letter IX: A gem of an aspect Seneca raises in this letter is the idea of "the fairweather friend". The brilliance of this gem of a work, is that its 2000 years old but the essential messages Seneca conveys to his friend on a great many topics through his letters is still as relevant today as then and we can still identify with them.
My only complaint: I want more. All of which adds to its appeal and relevance. That friend who frequently calls upon us for help and assistance and who we consider a close friend. Its also oddly personal as you can be forgiven the way it lucidly flows for thinking Seneca is addressing us in person. This letter talks of the unfairness and inequity of life. You can go back to it time and time again and still find it refreshing and thought provoking. Example of some of Seneca's wisdom are as follows:Letter CVII. All up such a quality read.
After an excellent intro into the mans life with a compact explanation of the basis and foundations for the Stoic philosophy the book moves on whereby each successive chapter is basically in the form of a "letter" written by Seneca in response to an issue his protege Lucillius has raised. Its a work full of thoughts/issues/ideas concerning everyday life that will eerily show the more things change the more they stay the same. Its that good. An example of the variance of issues covered is listed as follows (being a mere third of the letters within the book):Letter II: The unsettled mindLetter III: The defining of friendship/need for.Letter V: On the need to avoid attracting -ve attention.Letter VI: The difference/benefit of "converse" and "discource" among peers.Letter VII/VIII: Avoiding the crowd.Letter: IX: The defining of contentednessLetter XI: On handling moments of weaknessLetter XII: Aging with dignityLetter XV: Balancing exercise of the mind with exercise of the body.Letter XVI: The value of philosophy if fate determines ones lot.Letter XVIII: Moderation vs IndulgenceLetter XXVI: Maintaining spirit/vigor in old age.And so on.The translation by Robin Campbell is excellent and so lucid it compliments rather than detracts from Senecas obvious wit and wisdom as is always a risk when converting Latin to English. Quote: "The fairness of a law does not consist in its effect being actually felt by all alike but in its having been laid down for all alike." Or Letter XII that talks of old age and the prospect of death.
Get lost in the wisdom. It is a classic book inwhich I come back to over and over again. This book is all wisdom, from a mentor to a student/friend. It is written in such an eloquent style that it is almost poetic.
He is also an invaluable source of information about Stoicism's rivals, Epicurus and his followers. Augustine, and Ralph Waldo Emerson all quote, and borrow from Seneca. With Marcus Aurelius, Seneca is one of the most accessible of the Stoics. Seneca was probably not the most original thinker of the Stoic school. This particular volume is also filled with very helpful notes, and it is a good place to start a journey with the stoics. However, Seneca has had a profound influence on many, many later writers. His writing style was also not the most agreeable to many. Pliny the Younger, St.
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