On the Shortness of Life—by Seneca, The Stoic Philosopher
On the Shortness of Life—by Seneca, The Stoic Philosopher
Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, a statesman, a dramatist and—a prolific writer----
He was a tutor of the Emperor Nero in the first five years of his reign. In his book On the Shortness of Life, he offers us five principles to live by.
Principle 1. Life is not short, Use it well!
It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a generous amount has been given to us for the highest good if it were all well invested. But when it is wasted in meaningless activities, we are forced at last in our final moments to realize that it has passed away even before we knew it was passing. So, it is: we are not given a short time but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but we waste it.
2. Value Time more than Any other Thing
Seneca observes that People are careful in guarding their personal property; but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of it when this ought to be the one thing that they guard it carefully. You have heard of people say: 'When I am fifty I shall retire into leisure; when I am sixty I shall give up public duties.' But Seneca replies, And what guarantee do you have of a longer life? Who will allow your course to proceed as you arrange it? Therefore, how late it is to begin really to live just when life must end!
3. Devote yourselves to the Few Right Things
What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: therefore, live immediately. You must set your hands to tasks which you can finish or at least hope to finish. We must be especially careful in choosing people, and deciding whether they are worth devoting a part of our lives to them, whether the sacrifice of our time makes a difference to them.
4. Master some few Books
What is the point of having countless books and libraries whose titles the owner could scarcely read through in his whole lifetime? and it is far better to devote yourself to a few authors than to get lost among many. SENECA ADVISES US THAT we should buy enough books for use, and none just for embellishment.
Life is difficult and therefore, complains does no good. for Seneca: all life is a servitude. So, you have to get used to your circumstances, complain about them as little as possible, and grasp whatever advantage they have to offer.
5. Take a Break
Seneca Advice us, Avoid being busy all the time. If you ask some people as they come out of their house, 'Where are you going? What do you have in mind?' he will reply, 'I really don't know; but I'll see some people, I'll do something.' They wander around aimlessly looking for work, and they do not do what they planned to do but what they happen to run across. Their roaming is idle and pointless, like ants crawling over bushes, making their way to the topmost branch and then all the way down again. Seneca observes that Many people live a life like these creatures, and you could not be wrong to call it busy idleness.
Our minds must relax: they will rise better and alive after a rest. We must indulge the mind and from time to time allow it the leisure which is its food and strength. We must go for walks out of doors, so that the mind can be strengthened by a clear sky and plenty of fresh air.
Indeed, this great philosopher Seneca, offers pearls of practical advice for those who are weighed down by the clumsy and clatters of this busy earthly Life. His advice still resounds so clearly in our 21stcentury and will continue to ring on until the end of this human existence.
