Dialogues and Letters

by Seneca, C.D.N. Costa (Translator)

Included in this volume are the dialogues On the Shortness of Life and On Tranquility of Mind , which are eloquent classic statements of Stoic ideals of fortitude and self-reliance. This selection also features extracts from Natural Questions , Seneca's exploration of such phenomena as the cataracts of the Nile and earthquakes, and the Consolation of Helvia , in which he tenderly tries to soothe his mother's pain at their separation.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Genres: Philosophy, Classics, Nonfiction, History, Roman, Ancient, Classical Studies

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 65

About the author

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca or Seneca the Younger); ca. 4 BC – 65 AD) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero, who later forced him to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to have him assassinated.

Reviews

[L.S. Popovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seneca was a master of rhetoric. I remember reading about him in college in my Rhetoric class. Cicero, Gorgias, and Seneca are often mentioned in this context. Moral arguments, arguments of state, debate and philosophical essays - one might go on reading them for years. Seneca's words, in this small Penguin collection, are more lively than Plato in my opinion, and can be read today with as much freshness as I imagine they could in ancient times.

His words provide the recipes for our consolation. In all points in history, humanity has suffered from the same ills. These ills and troubles he addresses directly with great clarity and pithy elegance. A restless mind is short on inner resources, and an anxious mind will find a faithful friend in the literary remains of this author. Seeking approval from others is often like grasping at stars. I'm paraphrasing, but these aphorisms can remind us of our own behavior, as we navigate the chaotic world, searching for our own brand of meaning and a state in which we can exist or belong while dispelling the innate anxiety engendered by the roiling forces of our maniacal society.

His vigorous arguments, strong moral fiber, pointed delivery, consistency, sympathetic tone, and palpable confidence are inspiring. Shame, desire, ambition - our multifarious chains - are all part of his wheelhouse. How we might proceed with humbleness, come down off the throne and start enjoying the existence we forsake for our dreams - his answers to these questions are both intimate and universal.

While, when removed from their source, many of these statements come off as platitudes, they certainly succeed in their preserved form. You must consider these arguments as persuasive within their established architecture. You will discover his modes of processing grief, his prescriptions for the management of our emotional responses, how to seek wisdom, take control of our circumstances, wrestle with our inborn restlessness, how to avoid chasing variety in life, and how to confront the necessity within us for continual progress. By nurturing our awareness, serving the faculties of perception unclouded by worldly illusions, we might come to see the virtues of poverty, encountering wealth where others see deprivation. To a great extent, the attitude of the mind is capable of enhancing our lives. Follow this with: be well-disposed toward others and yourself, follow the straight and steady course, count gains not losses, explore the sources of your inner turmoil, avoid self-induced weariness, and much more to constitute the sum of his practical, relevant advice here, which is always positive and profound, relentlessly wise, endearing and logical, enriching in the extreme, and utterly magnificent.

This volume is but a very small offering of Seneca's total extant output. Enlist him into your canon. Follow the path he blazed with his bottomless compassion and perception.

[Noah Goats · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We can argue with Socrates, express doubt with Carneades, cultivate retirement with Epicurus, overcome human nature with the Stoics, and exceed its limits with the Cynics. Since nature allows us to enter into a partnership with every age, why not turn from this brief and transient spell of time and give ourselves wholeheartedly to the past, which is limitless and eternal and can be shared with better men than we?” With these words Seneca unwittingly explains why I enjoy reading Seneca so much.

Forty or so years from now, when I’m dead and my ashes have been thrown into the eyes of my enemies as stipulated in my will, my wife will haul all my books down to the used bookstore, get ripped off by the store’s owner, and then leave this (by then terribly yellowed and crumbling) collection of writings behind. The person who buys it will be irritated by all the underling I did with ugly baby blue ink. But as I read this everything seemed underlinable and the baby blue pen was the only writing utensil within reach.

When I got home from work yesterday I was upset and in a gloomy frame of mind because of an escalating series of catastrophes the day had thrown at me. This book was waiting for me on the porch in its bubblewrap envelope. I flipped through the pages, noticed an essay called “On Tranquility of Mind” and I began reading. By the time I finished I felt better. I felt inspired. Seneca’s words somehow traveled across the immense distance of twenty centuries and spoke right too me. And not just the first essay I read, but almost everything in the book.

I loved this book, although I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable recommending it to anybody else. It was just one of those situations where I stumbled into the right book at the right time. Seneca wasn’t the most original Stoic philosopher, but he files down the hard edges of guys like Epictetus and gives us a stoic philosophy that seems almost livable.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some treastises, some letters. . . reflections on life, and philosophy. Also views of ancient Roman life. It's interesting to read an account of a philosopher who scorns to look for a runaway slave on the grounds that if the slave can live without him, it's disgraceful that he can't live without the slave.

[Abdullah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the essay “on shortness of life” which encourages the reader to not waste their time.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Reread Sep8/2023)
Remains one of my favorite translations

———
"What you need is not those more radical remedies which we have now finished with — blocking yourself here, being angry with yourself there, threatening yourself sternly somewhere else — but the final treatment, confidence in yourself and the belief that you are on the right path."

"[People] are undermined by the restlessness of a mind that can discover no outlet, because they can neither control nor obey their desires, by the dithering of a life that cannot see its way ahead."

"Every chance of stimulation and distraction is welcome to all those inferior characters who actually enjoy being worn out by busy activity."

"Above all it is essential to appraise oneself, because we usually overestimate our capabilities."

"Many people who lives are false and aimed only at outward show. For it is agonizing always to be watching yourself in fear of being caught when your usual mask has slipped."

"Uninterrupted productivity will soon exhaust it, so constant effort will sap our mental vigour, while a short period of rest and relaxation will restore our powers."

"External goods are of trivial importance and without much influence in either direction: prosperity does not elevate the sage and adversity does not depress him."

"Do you think that any wise man can be affected by disgrace, one who relies entirely on himself and holds aloof from common beliefs?"

"No man is despised by another unless he is first despised by himself."

[Jason Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, contemporary of Jesus, and the original antifragilist (see also: Nassim Nicholas Taleb's Antifragile ).

Dialogues and Letters collects "On the Shortness of Life," "On Tranquility of Mind," and extracts from "Natural Questions," and it served as my introduction to a mind that I'll probably continue to study for the duration of my days.

Although no English translation of Seneca's writings holds a candle to the University of Chicago Press's recent Complete Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca series (expensive but, for devotees, worth it), this volume still stands as a fine primer on the core philosophies of this singular thinker and historical bad boy (he spent eight years in exile, allegedly for an affair with Caligula’s sister).

(Quoted from #SmallBooksMonth )

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing read.

Excellent knowledge and wisdom, even after nearly 2000 years.

Highly recommended.

Very accessible read too!

4.2/5

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Care to read the thoughts of a man chosen to tutor an emperor? Seneca the Younger lived in the opening century of the Roman Empire, and was such an accomplished author that even the early Roman Church tried to claim him. I've previously read a collection of his letters (Letters from a Stoic), part of an exchange between Seneca and his friend Lucilius, but Analogs and Essays is far more sharply focused. The theme of the letters ran toward the general; here, Seneca writes on particular topics, beginning with theodicy and touching on anger, happiness, tranquility of mind, sorrow, and -- oddly -- earthquakes.

This is a magnificent collection. If the translators' rendering in English is representative of the power Seneca imbued his Latin with, little wonder the early Church regarded a 'pagan' author with such admiration. Seneca here is clear, direct, and forcefully dramatic. After I finished the final piece, I re-read several essays over again, just to savor the experience. Stoicism is the reigning influence, of course: the ideas of Zeno are utterly pervasive. In the opening essay "On Providence", Seneca asserts that the universe is a fundamentally sensible and moral place: nothing happens without good purpose, and even the harshest of circumstances can prove a boon to the wise man. It matters not what we endure, Seneca writes, but how we endure it. Difficulties are not punishments: they are opportunities. The worst of luck is in fact a sign of favor of the gods, that they have deemed a man worthy of his character being tested. While I don't particularly agree with the notion that everything that happens is the product of a deity enforcing character training on we poor mortals, I rather like the indomitable attitude, and the idea that can winnowed out from the text -- life is nothing without struggle. We are creatures made to run and strive, not sit idly whining.

Although Stoicism dominates, Seneca is no puritan: he freely borrows from Epicurus, and not simply to 'know his enemy' as he piously defended himself in the Letters. Seneca sees Epicurus as quite wise, in fact, and not at all deserving the slander heaped upon him because of the abuses of those who call themselves his followers. Epicurus is in Seneca's eyes the soul of virtuous moderation -- and Seneca defends comfort and wealth at several points, perhaps feeling guilty at his own success. But lest we think him a hypocrite, when the time came Seneca followed in the path of his heroes, Cato and Socrates -- accepting death in the manner he advocated several times in this collection. (The final piece on earthquakes isn't quite as odd as it might seem: while Seneca spends most of it musing on how earthquakes might happen, he uses the then-recent destruction of Pompeii to point out that nothing in the material universe is truly reliable: only virtue matters, only it can maintain us against the ravages of fickle fortune.)

I have been sharing excerpts from this book on facebook's Stoics group, and they've found a very will-pleased audience there. This is the stuff of excellence; obviously of interest to those interested in philosophy, mindfulness, and wisdom literature, but a must-read for moderns who find such value in the Stoa as I do. Seneca's essays are elaborations on the potent thoughts of Epictetus' Handbook and Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.


This is one to re-read, remember, and recommend.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stoicism is just really up my street. Recognising, accepting and moving past your emotions. Not being controlled by them, but realising you control them. And the only thing you can control is just that: yourself. To assume you can control anything or anyone else, be that another person, nature, events, even ageing, is a waste of your time.

And it is precisely why time is your only true valuable resource. It’s the one thing we have all been granted at birth. So spend your time wisely.

[Kevin Tharayil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stoic thought in the format of dialogues to mother and some friends & letters recording travels and advice. Liked the dialogue with Serenus on tranquility of mind which deals with questions of moral purpose. Good intro to stoicism via this Roman statesman. Hope to keep reading this genre more with time.

[Christian Jespersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read Meditations and The art of Living. Both of them I enjoyed more than these books/letters.

I simply found that there was too long between those truly inspiring and timeless guidings, which Meditations was full of.
The last book is still unread, but I needed a break from this kind of reading.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the material in this compilation tends to be a bit repetitive, there are still useful nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout. The dialogues 'On Tranquility of Mind' and 'On the Shortness of Life' were definitely the highlights, and if I re-read in the future I will likely skip the letters altogether (they're quick, but don't add much that isn't covered in the dialogues).

[Zachary Rudolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

“By the toil of others we are led into the presence of things which have been brought from darkness into light. We are excluded from no age, but we have access to them all; and if we are prepared in loftiness of mind to pass beyond the narrow confines of human weakness, there is a long period of time through which we can roam.”

[Brian Darvell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to Seneca but I think his "Letters from a Stoic" or Marcus Aurelius' Meditations would be better first choices to Stoicism. Also, this book has such a density of thought to it that multiple readings are required for even moderate understanding of his messages.

[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not meet my expectations, but party it is my fault. I should have gone for Letter to a Stoic, by the same author as I was more interested in Seneca's philosophical thought and not his literature. Obviously, I did find some his philosophy but maybe not at the extend I had expected it.

[Ibis3]

Bilingual edition preferred.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Politician, Lawyer, philosopher, and tutor to the man who would become the emperor Nero.

A must read author!

[Andrew Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Selection Of Seneca's Prose Works Exemplify His Romanized Stoic Philosophy And Boundless Curiosity For The Natural World.

The Stoic philosopher, statesman, orator, playwright and satirist Lucius Annaeus Seneca, also known as Seneca the Younger, was originally from Córdoba, Spain, and according to ancient sources, he was born in either 8, 4 or 1 BCE, but there is a modern theory suggesting that he was born between 4 and 1 BCE. At a young age, Seneca journeyed to Rome with his aunt where he later studied philosophy and rhetoric during his formative years. His father, Seneca the Elder, was a devoted rhetorician who composed a multi-volume work, Oratorum et Rhetorum Sententiae Divisiones Colores, which was composed at the request of his two sons to further their careers in Roman political affairs. The work consisted of two portions - the Controversiae and Suasoriae were volumes of fictitious declamation lawsuits and persuasive speeches, respectively, and were compiled from memory during the elder Seneca's time spent attending Roman legal proceedings.

Seneca the Younger learned at the feet of Rome's most renowned scholars and philosophers, attending the famous School of the Sextii, which fused the philosophical schools of Stoicism and Pythagoreanism. As a young man he suffered from ill health, which impeded his professional career, but he successfully leveraged his aunt's political influence to attain a position as quaestor, also allowing him a coveted seat in the Roman Senate. Seneca's proficiencies at oratory and composition were considerable and he acquired a favorable reputation, but his ailing health required him to live in Egypt for a time, before eventually returning to Rome. In 41 CE he garnered the ill favor of the Roman empress Messalina, wife of Claudius, on a charge of adultery with the deceased emperor Gaius Caligula's sister, Julia Livilla, and was exiled to the island of Corsica, where he stayed for eight years, until 49.

Agrippina the Younger eventually married the Roman emperor Claudius in 49 CE, and used her own considerable influence to recall Seneca from his banishment, due to the fact that she needed a tutor of suitable reputation to educate and mentor her young son, the future emperor Nero. After Claudius' death in 54 Seneca worked in tandem with Nero's Praetorian Prefect, Sextus Afranius Burrus, and with Agrippina's assistance the two men effectively dominated Roman politics from 54-62. Seneca composed his many extant prose works at different periods in his prestigious career, but his dialogue, Consolation to Helvia was written during his exile in Corsica, and it is possible that he authored the Naturales Quaestiones while he was Nero's imperial advisor, but his Epistles were likely completed circa 65 CE, after his retirement.

This selection of Seneca's rhetoric is published by the Penguin Classics, and contains three of his Dialogues - Consolation to Helvia, On Tranquility of Mind and On the Shortness of Life, four of his Letters to Lucilius - Letters 24, 57, 79 and 110 - and three entries from Natural Questions, a moral-themed guide to the natural world also addressed to his friend, Lucilius Junior. There is an introduction by the translator, C.D.N. Costa, which provides a cursory overview of Seneca's life, his extant literary works, his Classical Greek-inspired writing style, his reputation and his lasting legacy. Dialogues and Letters' 113-page main text followed by a brief set of extended notes and an index at the back of the book.

The first of Seneca's Dialogues is his Consolation to Helvia, a heartfelt effort to assuage his mother's overwhelming grief at her son's exile to the island of Corsica, following the adultery charge he was found guilty of in 41 CE. Seneca wrote the Helvia in 41/2 CE, and it is composed in a literary form dating back to the fifth century BCE, known as a consolatio. He begins by praising his mother's early life and virtuous upbringing, emphasizing her ability to successfully raise a family amidst harrowing and tragic circumstances, before likening his own expatriation to the vast movements of migrating peoples occurring during that time in Europe and the Mediterranean - "The human race is always on the move: in so large a world there is every day some change - new cities are founded, and new names of nations are born as former names disappear or are absorbed into a stronger one. But what else are these national migrations than banishments of a people?" Seneca assures his mother that is doing well in exile, and to illustrate this he references On Virtue, a treatise written by the conspirator Marcus Junius Brutus in which Brutus describes seeing Marcus Claudius Marcellus thriving in his place of banishment in Mytilene, on the Greek island of Lesbos.

At the dialogue's end Seneca offers his mother heartfelt words of advice, beseeching her to seek her sister's companionship in her time of need, a woman whom he revered for her generosity and deep love for her husband Gaius Galerius, the prefect of Egypt from 16-32 CE. Seneca closes the Helvia with an emotional parting wish for his dearest mother, entreating her with kindness in his heart, "So this is how you must think of me - happy and cheerful as if in the best of circumstances. For they are best, since my mind, without any preoccupation, is free for its own tasks now delighting in more trivial studies, now in its eagerness for the truth rising up to ponder its own nature and that of the universe."

On Tranquility of Mind was written to his friend, Annaeus Serenus, as a sort of guidebook to assist him in finding purpose and direction, and to cure the mental anguish arising from having these important attributes absent in his life. The dialogue begins as an imaginary exchange between Serenus and Seneca, with the former expounding to the latter his problems and symptoms, and soliciting Seneca's opinion and prescribed course of action with which, if followed, he could remedy them. "However, the state I find myself in..is that I am not really free of the vices which I feared and hated, though not, on the other hand, subject to them: this puts me in a condition which is not the worst, but is an extremely peevish and quarrelsome one - I am neither ill nor well." Serenus complains of his own excessive frugality, and his preference for simple food and drink, which he believes to be symptomatic of his condition.

Seneca's reply constitutes the remainder of the dialogue. The Stoic philosopher speaks on the moral benefits of living a life of restraint and contemplation, and of the nobility of public service, not for power or prestige, but for a genuine love of helping the people. He counsels his friend to avoid luxury and ostentation, illustrating several scenarios he feels demonstrate an overabundance of free time and a needless expenditure of financial resources. "Even in our studies, where expenditure is most worth while, its justification depends on its moderation. What is the point of having countless books and libraries whose titles the owner could scarcely read through in his whole lifetime? The mass of books broaden the student without instructing him, and it is far better to devote yourself to a few authors than to get lost among many." On Tranquility is full of astutely worded advice with which Seneca elicited his readers to contemplate the way they lived their own lives.

Seneca also writes of avoiding unnecessary action, and of not wasting time engaging in activities that serve no purpose other than to involve oneself in the affairs of others. He emphasizes that the goals to which one applies oneself should reflect and be deserving of the work devoted toward their fulfillment. "The next thing to ensure is that we do not waste our energies pointlessly or in pointless activities: that is, not to long either for what we cannot achieve, or for what, once gained, only makes us realize too late and after much exertion the futility of our desires. In other words, let our labour not be in vain and without result, nor the result unworthy of our labour; for usually bitterness follows if either we do not succeed or we are ashamed of succeeding." The date of its writing cannot be pinpointed any narrower than 49-62 CE, but according to Wikipedia, there is a theory that may or may not be true that Seneca composed On Tranquility of Mind circa 60, "..on the (possibly wrong) assumption that the theme of the dialogue reflects Seneca's own deteriorating political situation at court."

Seneca's third dialogue in this selection, On the Shortness of Life, is an exhortation to mankind to make the most of its precious time on Earth, one that is written in a frantic, disorganized format which speaks to Seneca's passionate feelings and views on the subject. It is addressed to a man named Paulinus, whom likely could have been his father-in-law, Pompeius Paulinus, and there are a number of theories speculating on two possible dates for its composition, 49 and 55 CE, but it was certainly written after 41, the year of Gaius Caligula's death. In the first portion of the dialogue Seneca utilizes the lives of such Roman historical figures as Augustus Caesar, Marcus Tullius Cicero and Livius Drusus to illustrate his arguments by emphasizing the sets of circumstances that either led to their achieving some small measure of happiness or else resulted in their diminished life fulfillment.

On the Shortness of Life is full of the author's rhetorical questions and energetic statements which communicate his opinions and beg his reader to ponder what in life matters most to them. "I am always surprised to see some people demanding the time of others and meeting a most obliging response. Both sides have in view the reason for which the time is asked and neither regards the time itself - as if nothing there is being asked for and nothing given." He discusses time as an inexorable force, relentless and unstoppable - "It will cause no commotion to remind you of its swiftness, but glide on quietly. It will not lengthen itself for a king's command or a people's favour. As it started out on its first day, so it will run on, nowhere pausing or turning aside. What will be the outcome? You have been preoccupied while life hastens on." A large number of Seneca's Dialogues were originally discovered in a Milanese manuscript dating to the tenth or eleventh century CE, the Codex Ambrosianus. Many of them practically radiate positive energy and demonstrate the author's desire to make the world a more enjoyable place for everyone.

Seneca's selected epistles are all from his famous Letters to Lucilius, which is his most widely known and appreciated prose work, and these particular selections discuss specialized topics likely possessing limited appeal in modern times, but are interesting nonetheless for their historical content. In Letter 24 Seneca attempts to offer advice to his dear friend on how to best prepare for the stress of an impending litigation, also providing historical examples of men who faced grim situations in what Seneca felt to be a dignified manner. In the letter's opening he asks Lucilius what tangible benefit can be gleaned by taking up one's time with unnecessary worry, "For what need is there to summon troubles, to anticipate them, all too soon to be endured when they come, and squander the present in fears of the future? It is certainly foolish to make yourself wretched now just because you are going to be wretched some time in the future."

Letter 57 recounts Seneca's return trip from a vacation in Baiae through a mountain tunnel which connected Puteoli to Naples, and mainly focuses on ways of coping with a fear of enclosed spaces. Seneca had made the initial journey to Baiae by ship, and the experience left him terribly seasick. He made arrangements for his homecoming to be conducted by land. Letter 79 expresses Seneca's eagerness to hear details concerning Lucilius' recent trip to Sicily, known in those times as the Roman province of Sicilia. In particular he desires information on the whirlpool in the Strait of Sicily known as Charybdis, and to commission his friend to climb the daunting Mount Etna and compose a poem dedicated to it. He urges him to not be daunted by the fact that poets and lyricists have written about Etna in the past - "Besides, this subject is a rich field for all writers, and those who have gone before do not seem to me to have pre-empted what can be said about it, but rather to have shown the way."

Letter 110 entreats Lucilius to live a life free of needless fears and also urges him to eschew riches and extravagance, a concept for which Seneca possessed a strong passion, as can be evinced from other works in this selection. He references the lessons of his former teacher at Rome's School of the Sextii, Attalus the Stoic, urging his friend to "Turn instead to real wealth; learn to be content with little and call out loudly and boldly: we have water, we have barley: we may vie with Jupiter himself in happiness." He closes his letter with some heartfelt advice for Lucilius - "Attalus has told us this; nature has told all men this. If you are willing to meditate on it constantly, you will be on the way to being happy, not just seeming happy, and seeming so not to others but to yourself."

Seneca's Natural Questions is a morally themed treatise exploring various phenomena in the natural world. There are three selections in this compilation, one from the preface, one describing the Cataracts of the Nile River, and one which concerns earthquakes. All are interesting, but the essay regarding the Nile Cataracts is probably the most informative of the three. All are extremely brief, however, with none of them exceeding three pages.

Overall, Seneca's Letters and Dialogues is a very interesting read, and despite being only 113 pages in length still managed to engage the reviewer sufficiently to read through it again. The three Dialogues constitute the lion's share of the material, with the four Letters to Lucilius and the excerpts from Natural Questions taking up the last 26 pages. According to the introduction, this collection was intended to complement the Penguin Classics edition of Seneca's Letters from a Stoic, another selection consisting solely of material from the Letters to Lucilius. I hope you enjoyed the review, thank you so much for reading!

[Fernando Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is conformed by three long letters, which I will call them treatises, and subsequent short letters. The substance of the book is within these treatises in which Seneca presents his ideas on how to deal with several moral vices present on the Roman society of his time. Three topics of importance I took away from here: how to deal with the distress of exile, how to deal with insatisfaction and importance to acknowledge and care about our own time and mortality.
In my perspective, Seneca is viewed as a " Doctor of the soul,": he identifies and characterizes the problems and prescribes remedies that leads, in most cases,to the study of philosophy, or liberal arts, and to serve others through the state.
I feel like Seneca starts with a preconception of morality in which all we can agree on and, from there, build on his ideas. It is different from other authors in the sense that he is not exhaustive in the principles he offers. That is, it is not the aim to capture and study the essence of things. But it is more like "applied philosophy," in which we see actions varios principles from people of ancient times.

[Rajhesh Panchanadhan]

A major writer and a leading figure in the public life of Rome, Seneca (c. 4BC–AD 65) ranks among the most eloquent and influential masters of Latin prose. This selection explores his thoughts on philosophy and the trials of life. In the Consolation to Helvia he strives to offer solace to his mother, following his exile in AD 41, while On the Shortness of Life and On Tranquillity of Mind are lucid and compelling explorations of Stoic thought. Witty and self-critical, the Letters – written to his young friend Lucilius – explore Seneca’s struggle to acquire philosophical wisdom. A fascinating insight into one of the greatest minds of Ancient Rome, these works inspired writers and thinkers including Montaigne, Rousseau, and Bacon, and continue to intrigue and enlighten.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I was interested in the essay "On the Shortness of Life" after reading a recommendation for it. After I finished that story, I ended up reading the whole thing. It's amazing how human nature has not at all changed in 2000 years - much of what he writes is still relevant today. Docked a star because he tends to go off on tangents sometimes and discusses examples of contemporaries of the period. Those parts probably made more sense in the time in which it was written, but without looking up the history of each person he mentions the relevance is lost on me today.

[Adina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost two millennia have passed since Seneca’s time, and it’s safe to say that human character hasn’t changed much. People tend to suffer the same afflictions, crave peace of mind and a fulfilled life, but they fall short at the same vices and distractions. The essays and letters are full of words to live by. Just a bit weird that Seneca’s preaching modesty - even promotes poverty instead of the vices of wealth - and thoughtfulness, yet he was one of the richest men in Rome.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Men find it more difficult to gain leisure from themselves than from the law. Meanwhile as they rob and are robbed, as they disturb each other’s peace, as they make each other miserable, their lives pass without satisfaction, without pleasure, without mental improvement. No one keeps death in view, no one refrain from hopes that look far ahead; indeed, some people even arrange things that are beyond life Dash massive tombs, dedications of public buildings, shows for their funerals, and ostentatious burials. But in truth, such peoples funerals should be conducted with torches and wax tapers, as though they had lived the shortest of lives.“ - On the Shortness of Life

Endlessly quotable and thought provoking in a steering and undisturbing way, I find that the texts here express thoughts I had previously not known how to put to words and further expand on them as ideologies one could follow. I feel like people could greatly benefit from reading this.

[Michael Brenyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to rate a book like this considering it is a "classic." With that said, I thought it was still very good. It offers insights and perspectives on life that are well written and well thought-out. I think my favorite was the small essay on how everyone has more than enough time in their life, it's just that everyone wastes so much of it! Definitely relevant for today's reader.

[Skip Unger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting collection of essays, letters and dialogues from Roman Stoic philospher Seneca. Full of wit and humor while presenting his philsophy of acceptance of whatever comes in life. Suffers in comparison to Marcus Aurelius however as Seneca is rather long-winded perhaps reflecting the politician/statesmen he was in ancient Rome.

[Billie Pritchett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why read Seneca for Stoicism when you can read Epictetus? Pick up the Penguin Classics edition of Epictetus' Discourses and Selected Writings. Not that these scribblings from Seneca are without merit. It's just that there's a better author of his kind that is more inspiring.

[Robin Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. surprisingly easy read. Reminds me of Emerson.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant, consoling, bolstering. An enjoyable and inspiring read from tutor to an emperor.

Many misfortunes may befall us. It is shown here it is possible to bear them in good grace.

[Brett Waggoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wise and insightful

[Jeremy Alva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, yet contains timeless wisdom that still rings true after 2000 years from its creation. My personal favorite is "on the shortness of life."