La felicità

by Seneca, Mario Scaffidi Abbate (Redattore)

Rare Book

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Classics, Self Help, History, Audiobook, Psychology

100 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 55

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

[Adina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stoic I am not or want to be. I agree with some of Seneca's ideas, such as not listening to the opinion and judgement of the majority but I want to continue to indulge in my pleasures, thank you very much.

[Guille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Empezaré por el final: es realmente llamativo que tras sus recomendaciones, el autor ocupe un buen puñado de páginas en confesarnos su fracaso en seguirlas y en defenderse de las críticas recibidas por sus coetáneos por la vasta extensión que distaba entre aquello que predicaba y su propia conducta.

“Hablas de una manera, dices, pero vives de otra. Esto mismo, oh mentes malintencionadas y enemigas de las almas mejores, fue objetado a Platón, objetado a Epicuro, objetado a Zenón (pues todos ellos explicaban, no cómo vivían, sino cómo sería bueno (también para ellos) vivir); trato acerca de la virtud, no de mí mismo, y, cuando repruebo los vicios, repruebo en primer lugar los míos: viviré cómo es preciso en la medida de lo posible”

Y a mí me gustaría preguntarle, ¿de todo lo que nos receta, qué es posible?

“Bienaventurado es, pues, el hombre de juicio recto; bienaventurado el que con sus cosas se contenta y es de sus cosas amigo, cualesquiera sean ellas; bienaventurado es aquel a quien la razón hace que acepte cualquier estado de sus asuntos.”

Bienaventurado es, de eso no hay duda, pero ¿está a nuestro alcance?, ¿realmente, de no tener la suerte de haber nacido así, y no creo que haya muchos, podemos llegar a ese nivel de “sabiduría”? Séneca nos receta tener un alma “sufrida, dispuesta a toda eventualidad, cuidadosa, pero sin ansias de su cuerpo y de todo lo que toca a su cuerpo, solícita de las otras cosas pertinentes a la vida, pero sin deslumbrarse por ninguna de ellas”. Vamos, que te contentes y disfrutes de lo que tienes, sea esto poco o mucho, aunque él mismo prefiere lo mucho, ¿quién no? (“El sabio… no ama las riquezas, sino que las prefiere; no las coloca en su alma sino en su casa…”), y no sufras por lo que no tienes. Fácil, ¿no?

“¿Qué puede faltar a quien está más allá de todo deseo? ¿Qué cosa exterior hará falta a quien reconcentró en sí todas sus cosas?”

[Brodolomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donekle o blaženom životu a mnogo više Senekino pravdanje šta će mu toliki novci, ako je već bogatstvo nebitno sa stanovišta stoicizma. Ovo je Seneka sa vrhunca političke karijere, sofisticirani licemer, arogantan, i vrlo vešt retoričar, možda čak i prevešt - formalan, sistematičan, aforističan, filozofski argumentovan, više „propoveda“ sa visine nego razgovara + ne može se zaboraviti da Seneka ovo piše iz pozicije jednog od najbogatijih ljudi svog vremena koji je opet pare zaradio u državnoj službi imperatoru Neronu. Tako samouveren, dok sa đavolom sadi tikve (ili blitvu), Seneka ume baš suptilno da izbaci otrov i omalovaži protivnike. Tipa, parafraziram, Seneka objašnjava dva moguća pristupa odgovoru onima koji ga kritikuju da ne živi u skladu sa onim što propoveda. Onaj, ko se još trudi da stekne mudrost, bi odgovorio: „Ja radim na sebi, još uvek nisam uspeo da ovladam svojim strastima, ali se trudim i u jednom trenutku budućnosti ću u tome uspeti“. Sa druge strane, onaj ko je u potpunosti ovladao mudrošću će odbrusiti: „Nemaš nikakva prava da donosiš sud o boljima; a meni je već pošlo za rukom da se ne dopadam zlim ljudima, a to je dokaz da sam u pravu“. To što su ovakve otrovne strelice pisane na savršeno upeglanom i superiornom latinskom, čine ih još zabavnijim.

Kada se oduzme predgovor profesora Đurića, knjižica se svede na nekih tridesetak stranica, te zbog kratkoće može se nekome činiti da je prikladna za upoznavanje sa Senekom. Ipak, mislim da bi to bila greška, i da se uvek treba krenuti sa „Pismima prijatelju“. Pisane nakon što je obrao sa đavolom zelen bostan i kada više nije bio u Neronovoj milosti, „Pisma prijatelju“ su intimne poslanice, lične, meditativne, razgovorne, sa praktičnim savetima. Sa njima smo već na dva koraka od Montenja (iako nam je bilo potrebno 1500 godina da se načine ta dva koraka). A nema, u čitavoj svetskoj književnosti, dve takve knjige koje u životu pružaju više utehe.

„O blaženom životu“ može da dođu na bis iako su pisane nekoliko godina ranije. Stilski, delo je očekivano lepo oblikovano, s nizom vrednih aforizama i upečatljivih retoričkih figura. Čini se da savremena civilizacija mnogo gubi time što o vrlinama više ne govorimo kroz personifikacije. Upečatljivo je lepo kada Seneka razvija sliku u kojoj nam je za neke vrline potrebna mamuza, a za druge uzda.

[Laura V. لاورا · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettura piacevole, per nulla noiosa né di difficile comprensione, tutt’altro.
Seneca, del resto, ci sapeva fare con la parola, scritta e parlata; non a caso, è uno degli autori che ricordo con maggior piacere dai tempi del liceo. Insomma, se capitava lui o Cicerone, la versione di latino non faceva mica paura e c’era anzi speranza di rimediare almeno la sufficienza! E poi, tra tante biografie insulse agli occhi degli svogliati studenti, la vicenda personale di Seneca, all’interno del manuale di letteratura latina, non passava certo inosservata, anche perché legata a un periodo storico pieno d’intrighi, oscure macchinazioni e follie pure. C’era di mezzo nientemeno che Nerone, degno figlio di sua madre, mica roba da poco!
Non si prenda però in mano questo suo libretto sperando di trovarvi la ricetta assoluta per arrivare alla tanto sospirata felicità: la saggezza degli antichi è bella perché varia e ognuno, ovviamente, dice la sua in materia. Seneca ci parla di virtù e di vita secondo natura, di accettazione degli eventi indistintamente e di ricchezze che devono essere possedute e che non devono possederci… Tutto sacrosanto, per carità.
Qualche tempo fa un amico poeta quasi centenario mi ha detto che è inutile che ci affanniamo tanto a inseguire la felicità nel mondo esterno: fatica appunto inutile poiché questa può esistere soltanto dentro di noi ed è lì che dovremmo imparare a cercarla. Sarà mai possibile?

[Bart Kleijngeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having read Aurelius' Meditations, I found a quite different stoic in Seneca. Obviously the core principles are there: to live in virtue (according to nature) and refrain from intense emotions, desires and fears. However, Seneca emphasizes study as an important activity and believes that we shouldn't busy ourselves too much with societal activities. Aurelius seems to state the exact opposite: reading is a waste of time, it comes down to action, to doing things that benefit the community and mankind. As long as it's not about achieving wealth and status, I tend to agree more with Marcus Aurelius.

Seneca is often judged for being hypocritical. He is rich, succesful and very active in (high) society, yet he preaches one should refrain from most of this. He does, however, defend his wealth, stating that it is morally neutral and can be used as means to fulfill more virtuous deeds than without. I'm not too sure what to think of this, but overall Seneca can be a sharp thinker and eloquent writer. I found him inspiring and an interesting read.

[Alex Pler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"¿Por qué no buscar más bien algo bueno realmente para sentirlo, no para mostrarlo? Esas cosas que se contemplan, ante las que se detienen las gentes, que uno señala a otro con asombro, por fuera brillan, por dentro son deplorables".

"Discutís acerca de la vida de uno, de la muerte de otro, y al oír el nombre de hombres grandes por algún mérito egregio, ladráis como los perrillos al salir al encuentro de personas desconocida; pues os conviene que nadie parezca bueno: como si la virtud ajena fuera el reproche de vuestros delitos. Comparáis envidiosos las cosas espléndidas con vuestra sordidez, y no comprendéis cuán en detrimento vuestro es esa osadía. Pues si los que siguen la virtud son avaros, libidinosos y ambiciosos, ¿qué sois vosotros, que odiáis el nombre mismo de la virtud?".

Me ha sorprendido encontrar en las palabras del estoico cordobés varios puntos en común con el budismo zen: sobre todo en esa búsqueda de una vida feliz en el momento presente sin que los placeres (o su ausencia) la controlen.

[Leo Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Why, though you are hardly aware of it, is there not a whirling hurricane at this moment spinning round and confusing your minds, making them seek and avoid the very same things, now raising them aloft and now dashing them below?"

So much poetic wisdom in this tiny book :) Answers a number of questions I had about life in present day, including how to consider people whose virtuous words jar with hypocritical actions (no spoilers tho!!)

Worth a few hours of your time :)

[Simon Goldenson · Rating 1 out of 5]

My favourite thing about Seneca is that he's dead

[Dexcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read. It was certainly difficult however. At some point I'll have to go through it again.

[Benedetta Folcarelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

— Non c’è dunque nulla di peggio che seguire, come fanno le pecore, il gregge di coloro che ci precedono, perché essi ci portano non dove dobbiamo arrivare, ma dove vanno tutti.​

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce inseamna sa fii fericit / ce iti trebuie pentru a fi fericit? Un eseu pe care ar trebui sa il citeasca oricine. Mi-a luat destul de mult din cauza limbii germane, dar am reusit sa ii dau de cap.

Partea intai - de fapt portiunea filozofica - expune metodele prin care Seneca crede ca se poate atinge fericirea.
- departarea de marea masa, de "turma", incercarea de a fi propriul tau stapan, judecator. Daca o gramada de oameni face acelasi lucru, nu inseamna neaparat ca e un lucru bun, de calitate. De fapt, pentru Seneca un lucru pe care il face toata lumea e un exemplu de lucru de proasta calitate
- cu cat ai mai multi admiratori, cu atat ai mai multi dusmani, invidiosi
- aproapierea de natura si traire in conformintate cu regulile ei
- apropierea de virtute, izgonirea placerilor, a gandirii cu "burta"
- a utiliza placerile si nu a fi utilizat de placeri. O placere este ceva trecator : nu are mult spatiu de actiune asa ca produce rapid satietate, duce la plictis si dispare rapid dupa ce atins punctul culminant
- a nu putea fi cumparat cu lucruri "exterioare" etc...

"wer der Lust nachjagt, alles hintan und vernachlässigt als Erstes die Freiheit und gibt sie hin um des Bauches willen und kauft doch nicht sich die Lüste, sondern verkauft sich den Lüsten"

Partea a doua e o explicatie pe care Seneca o da contemporanilor sai, care i-au imputat ca propovaduieste o stoicismul si abstinenta, el insusi traind in lux.

Nu imi cere sa fiu cel mai bun, ci sa fiu mai bun decat cei rai...
...ei nu vorbesc despre cum traiesc (Seneca, Platon, Epikur, Zeno), ci cum ar trebui sa traiasca
...uita-te la cei care incearca sa realizeze ceva maret, chiar daca se impotmolesc si nu le iese
...la mine bogatia ocupa un loc oarecare, la tine ocupa cel mai inalt rol; in sfarsit, bogatia imi apartine mie, tu insa apartii bogatiei


4 stele pentru ca partea a doua e prea prea prea lunga si este batuta modena pe aceeasi tema. Cine zicea / sau e un proverb ca "cine se apara se acuza?".

Oricum primul meu contact cu Seneca - foarte instructiv si interesant.

[Sean Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously it is easy to write a book on the meaningfulness of a simple life when you’re a wealthy Roman. None the less, I live in San Francisco and his hypocrisy can be valid now as then. His rules for happiness involve avoiding group think and following the crowds. Looking inwards to define happiness will lead to more success than the definition of others. It is such a little powerful book that despite a tedious sentence here and there; I feel grateful and made better for having read it.

[Diego Petrucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seneca ha buone idee, molto simili allo Zen e al Buddismo in certi tratti, ma nell'ultima parte del libro sbarella e in preda a uno spirito maligno (o forse solo le contraddizioni interne alla suo pensiero) si aggroviglia su se stesso e degrada la qualità del libro e del suo pensiero.

[كيكه الوزير · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Seneca deserves many re-reads. I'll return in the future.

[Nicholas Nilsson · Rating 1 out of 5]

seneca: how can they criticize my blemishes, who are themselves being devoured by pustules?

me: haha toga-man go brrrrr

[Alessandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una lettura veloce e piacevole, per dedicare qualche pensiero a come la nostra serenità non venga sempre apprezzata, da noi stessi o da chi ci circonda.

Seneca mostra le contraddizioni tra le azioni e i pensieri filosofici sotto forma di dialogo, dedicato poi al fratello maggiore Gallione, che ben conosceva l'ambiente politico e che poteva essere il giudice più indulgente delle manchevolezze del fratello minore.

Si discute anche la cupiditas naturalis, l’impulso naturale che spinge tutti a cercare la felicità, ma che i più non conseguono perché la ricercano nei beni apparenti, i quali non possono darla. Per di più ciascuno è nel contempo esempio ed imitatore di mali per gli altri, e per questo i giudizi più diffusi sulla felicità sono anche i più errati.

Sicuramente da approfondire nonostante la lunghezza.

[Ivan Damjanović · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ponajbolji dio ovog ukoričenja (u kojem su i odabrana pisma Luciju) predstavlja predgovor (kojeg sam, kao i uvijek, pročitao na kraju) M. N. Đurića. Donosi pregled rimske filozofije s posebnim naglaskom na stoike i Seneku, logično. Tu sam prvi puta, vidi vraga, doznao zanimljive činjenice: Seneka je bio najzaslužniji čovjek zlatnog doba Rima, dok mu Neron nije naredio da se ubije ostavivši mu čast da sam izabere način (prerezao si je žile). Nominalno, Seneka je bio Neronov učitelj, ali, kao i mnogi drugi diktatori, Neron se u jednom trenutku osilio, a Seneka mu je dosadio. Također, Đurić spominje i nedokazanu tezu, koja prilično ima smisla, da je Seneka bio tajni kršćanin.
Toj tezi u prilog ide i činjenica da je ova rasprava pretežno bliska kršćanskoj etici, no evo i nekih razlika: prije svega zapinje za oko afirmativan odnos spram suicida u određenim situacijama, a vjerojatno i spram bogatstvu (iako, dežurni će zapaziti da i nije baš tako s obzirom kako se Crkva dalje razvijala. Treba odvojiti nauk od politike establišmenta, naravno, smatram).
Stvar oko koje se sve vrti, po Seneki, je vrlina- ona je sredstvo i cilj, u njoj leži prava sreća (antipod: užitak).
Vrlina= ispunjenje dužnosti, raditi ono što čovjeku dolikuje.
„Afekti“ kojima se valja opirati: bol, strah, požuda, naslada.
Plemeniti „afekti“: jaka volja, obazrivost i radost + rad, zajedništvo „Svijet je zajednička domovina svih ljudi.“
Highlight citati i.m.o: „Jednim vrlinama potrebna ja mamuza, a drugim zauzdavanje.“
„Živi s ljudima kao da te Bog posmatra.“
Velika kontradikcija: Seneka postavlja tezu da je blaženo živjeti = živjeti prema prirodi, a konstantno tvrdi da valja obuzdavati niske nagone, strasti, slušati razum te da je jedino dobro vrlina i ona je dovoljna za blažen život. How in the hell je to prirodno?
Seneka se i ovdje, kao u raspravi O kratkoći života najčešće poziva na Sokrata, ali i na kolege iz stoičke škole. Raspravu karakterizira i česta repetitivnost (rekapitulacije), što me odmah asocira na književno-teorijski rad Pavla Pavličića.

[_nuovocapitolo_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Da sempre gli esseri umani aspirano alla felicità, ma molti non sanno dove risieda. Spesso si lasciano sedurre dai piaceri dei sensi, che ingannano con le loro carezze, e trascurano la salute dell'animo. Ma la vera felicità non si trova nei beni apparenti. Non ai piaceri del corpo, «delle cucine e dei bordelli», bisogna abbandonarsi e neppure a quelli della ricchezza, perché labili, deperibili e dannosi per la mente. Ma allora dove cercare? E che mezzi ha la filosofia per aiutarci? A partire da queste domande Seneca, con tono acceso e partecipato, pagina dopo pagina, ci svela il segreto per vivere felici. Perché la felicità, per quanto sembri irraggiungibile, è alla portata di tutti

La prima parte risulta la più interessante: vivere secondo natura, godere della libertà interiore, esercitare la razionalità, avere come guida la virtù, ricercare il sommo bene sono argomenti sui quali anche il più spensierato degli uomini di tanto in tanto riflette. La seconda parte del dialogo invece risulta più sottile che convincente; l'intento è fin troppo scopertamente autodifensivo: è vero che la saggezza si può praticare sia nelle difficoltà sia negli agi, ma è molto meglio essere ricchi che mendicanti, godere di buona salute che essere cagionevoli, abitare in una casa confortevole che sotto un ponte e potremmo continuare. Infine nella polemica contro l'Epicureismo, che diventa l'alibi filosofico di ogni sfrenatezza e contro le dottrine che tentano di insinuare nello Stoicismo motivi edonistici travestiti da amici della virtù, troviamo un serio ammonimento: non cediamo ai facili accomodamenti fra le grandi scuole di pensiero - una specie di trasformismo etico - ma ancor più dobbiamo saper dire "no" ai piccoli e grandi compromessi che avvengono nel chiuso della nostra coscienza. Saggio introduttivo a cura di Rosanna Marino.)

[CKPineapple · Rating 3 out of 5]

All 28 books complete!

This was an interesting introduction to Ancient Roman philosophy and I appreciated that it was split into digestible amounts. However, around halfway through the text I noticed it started deviating from the initial question on what constitutes a "happy life"... and it just simply became Seneca's defence on the realm of philosophy as a whole. Granted, he was shady and sassy which made it enjoyable, but it felt as though he lost the plot.

Favourite quote? "Our highest good may also be defined otherwise that is to say, the same idea may be expressed in different language. Just as the same army may at one time be extended more widely, at another contracted into a smaller compass, and may either be curved [...], or drawn up in a straight line, while, in whatever figure it be arrayed, its strength and loyalty remain unchanged" (Book 5)

Favourite moment? The initial few chapters/books.

[librosgatosyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinceramente la filosofía no es lo mío, asi que no podría hacer una crítica sobre estos sabios antiguos, solo lo que senti al leerlos, y bueno en este caso, me parece muy instructivo e interesante. Amerita conversatorio literario para comentar y discutir los distintos puntos de vista.
Soberbio 😉👌🏼

[Martina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 ⭐

Quindi la felicità sta nella virtù... E Seneca era leggermente ipocrita nel professarlo sapendo di esserne lontano. Ma almeno ci stava provando.

Il discorso è semplice da seguire e abbastanza piacevole, anche a tratti divertente perché è come se si sentisse offeso da qualche accusa e tramite questo lungo discorso cercasse di puntualizzare un unico concetto —non so perché ma la cosa mi ha fatto sorridere di più punti in cui andava nello specifico.

❁ perché non cercare un bene da potersi intimamente sentire, piuttosto che uno da mettere in vetrina? Tutte queste cose che ci stanno intorno, che c'è vincono e che ci mostriamo a dito gli uni agli altri con ammirato stupore, brillano esternamente, ma dentro non sono che miserie.

❁ Il sommo bene è immortale, non sfugge, non dà sazietà né rimorsi, giacché una mente retta non muta, non odia se stessa e non cede di un passo da quella sua condizione, che è la migliore; il piacere, invece, finisce nel momento stesso in cui giunge al suo culmine, ha uno spazio ristretto e perciò ben presto ci sazia e ci dà nausea, e già nel suo primo slancio s'infiacchisce

❁ Non dobbiamo lasciarci corrompere né dominare dal mondo che ci circonda, dobbiamo fare assegnazione solo su noi stessi, affidarci alle nostre personali capacità, risoluti sia nella fortuna che nella malasorte; dobbiamo, insomma, essere noi gli artefici della nostra vita e della nostra condotta.

❁ Perciò possiamo dichiarare apertamente che la felicità è l'armonia interiore giacché le virtù si trovano nell'accordo e nell'unità: dove questi mancano non ci sono che vizi.

❁ Sia dunque la virtù la nostra guida: seguendo lei ogni passo sarà sicuro. Il piacere, inoltre, quando è eccessivo nuoce, nella virtù non c'è da temere che vi sia nulla di troppo, perché è intrinseca in lei la moderazione.

[Francesco Morettini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non si danno stelline ai filosofi, ma visto che devo… 3.5⭐️

“Intanto, come tutti gli stoici, io seguo la natura: è
segno di saggezza non allontanarsene ma conformarsi,
alle sue leggi ed al suo esempio. Felice è dunque quella
vita che si accorda con la sua propria natura, il che è
possibile solo se la mente, in primo luogo, è sana, ma sana sempre, in ogni momento, poi se è forte ed energica decisamente paziente, capace di affrontare qualsiasi situazione, interessata al corpo e a quanto lo riguarda ma senza ansie e preoccupazioni, amante di tutto ciò che adorna la vita ma con distacco, disposta a servirsi dei doni della fortuna ma senza farsené schiava. Comprendi bene - anche se non aggiungo altro - che una volta eliminate tutte le cause di irritazione e di paura, ne conseguono una calma interiore ed una libertà ininterrotte:
infatti ai piaceri e agli allettamenti, che sono fragili e di
breve durata, e che ci nuocciono col loro solo profumo, subentra una gioia incommensurabile, salda e costante;
e poi la pace e l'armonia dell'anima, l'elevatezza e la
bontà: la cattiveria è sempre frutto di una malattia.”

[Tanvika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second encounter with Seneca
Happy life is a calm, upright,free mental state. fears , hopes, sufferings, poverty or wealth, illnesses can't harm or excite the wise man. the highest good is practicing of virtues by such a person.
He also draws a distinction between pleasure and virtue. Pleasure is considered of the body- coarse,fleeting and corrupting. Pleasure seeking man can't be virtuous.a virtuous man pursuing reason can get pleasure secondarily.
There is also a large chunk of criticism on people manipulating Epicurus philosophy and also the ones questioning Seneca personal conduct.
It is a bit repetitive.but there are several gems.

[Bart · Rating 1 out of 5]

seneca is de ene helft van het boek wild om zich heen aan het slaan om te verdedigen dat hij onmenselijk rijk mag zijn zolang hij dat gegeven maar niet belangrijk vindt - cringe - en de andere helft van het boek is een opsomming van soorten mensen die hij vervelend vindt. geen enkele zin gaat over wat hij denkt dat een goed leven is. teringnerd. we mogen niet eens neuken

[giuliagullo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seneca ti amo sempre 🤍

[Alonzo Caudillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Como curiosidad dentro del pensamiento de Séneca este texto se presta para conocer algunas distinciones respecto de la virtud, el bien, la verdad y la razón. No obstante, hay otras obras de mayor envergadura que representan más interés para el lector, como las "Epístolas morales a Lucilio". Afortunadamente, esta versión cuenta con grandes comentarios y una buena introducción de Julián Marías, que proporcionan información importante para cualquier interesado en filosofía.

[Eddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 he's so babygirl (è un mega incoerente)

Grazie libro per farmi capire che i non-fiction non sono il mio jam: a me piace una bella storiella, oppure non mi ci appassiono. E infatti ci ho messo più di quanto volessi a leggere questo libro, anche se si faceva più interessante e divertente quando Seneca sparava merda sugli altri.

Un riassunto molto veloce:
"La felicità si raggiunge tramite la virtù e non il piacere, perché quello dipende e può portare alla felicità come anche alla disperazione"
"ok, allora perché tieni tutto quel lusso?"
"ALLORA PUNTO PRIMO COME OSI CHIAMARMI INCOERENTE, IO SONO SAGGIO, I SAGGI DOMINANO GLI OGGETTI, NON COME VOI SCEMI CHE SIETE DOMINATI DA ESSI. Perché, uhm, *tira fuori citazioni di Socrate* il saggio è tipo mega intelligente e riesce a vivere bene in qualunque situazione, ma se ho il lusso perché non devo godermelo. Quindi, vabbè, insultatemi perché siete ignoranti che insultano tutti, ma io so che tengo ragione"

Lo consiglierei? Onestamente sì, è corto (c'è la traduzione latina a fronte) e vedere Seneca che si incazza e prova a giustificarsi è abbastanza divertente.

[Pablo Blanco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virtud, deber, felicidad, placer, riqueza... Séneca trata todos estos temas de manera directa, de tú a tú con el lector. Mensajes claros y razonables de un ser humano que admite él mismo no ser perfecto.

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

On The Happy Life, Providence by Seneca – one of the greatest thinkers of all time, and one of the richest men of ancient, and presumably also of all time, one of a dozen notes on Seneca and the stoics is at https://realini.blogspot.com/2023/06/... we need stoicism to face the American elections

10 out of 10

It is the proper time to read or take on again Seneca, the Stoics, Michel de Montaigne https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... great luminaries that could help us get over the stress of the coming days, this is the Sunday before November 5

Nevertheless, we could try and be Panglossian https://realini.blogspot.com/2014/12/... proclaiming that ‘we live in the best of all possible worlds’, regardless of the upcoming Armageddon, what with Orange Jesus favorite (2 in 3 at betting houses) to be the most powerful man on earth
So let us listen to Seneca, a real ‘very stable genius’, unlike the self-proclaimed buffoon, who may destroy NATO, bring Russia again in our courtyard, not just the backyard, and try to apply those precepts ‘wish for what you already have’, which is incidentally the secret for Nirvana, the state where there are no more cravings…

The fact that an Orange Felon, who uses a lot of make-up, while screaming about ‘you send your child to school, and he comes home with a sex change’, which is preposterous, not just false, but this is the paradigm of the crazy, ‘disgusting’ monster – the highest ranking republican in the Senate called him that, just lie almost all of those who worked for him denounced the danger he presents, ‘fascist, fucking moron, and more such labels…you would not hire someone with such a CV, would you’ – is likely to be president is awful
This is why we need Stoicism, before we get Atomised https://realini.blogspot.com/2022/04/... for it ‘is not what happens, but what we make of what happens’, although in this particular r case we need many more words of wisdom –‘the mind is its own place, it can make…

Hell out of heaven, and heaven out of hell’, in other words, if the votes go for the absolute lunatic, we need a paradigm change like the one described in Vernon God Little, Booker Prize Winner by DBC Pierre, which is something like this ‘imagine you enter a room and a stranger has his finger up your grannie’s bum, what do you think…I will kill the bastard…but then you find that he is only trying to save her, she is in danger
Well then, I say he is my hero, and that is paradigm shift for you https://realini.blogspot.com/2016/06/... talking about those crazy elections, it is about the same, in my mind, we either have a finger or worse in the ass, or else we are saved

Which will not come easy, for the idiot will challenge the results, indeed, he has already done it, he made it clear, either he wins, which means it is all fair and just, or he loses, and that can only happen if the votes are rigged, by the way, he also won the last time around, in his fantasy world and that of his cult members
In the psychology classic Influence https://realini.blogspot.com/2016/05/... by Robert Cialdini we have six principles, and among them there are the Principle of Respect for Authority, Social Conformity, Reciprocity, and those three led to a mass suicide in Guyana, some decades ago

I refer to this, because it could happen again, although this time, it could be much worse, for the numbers involved could be catastrophically higher, and besides, those MAGA morons would not just affect themselves, but large parts of the world, if not all of it, what with destruction of NATO, blowing up world trade and worse
It does not have to be this way, but as The Economist explains in its lead articles, the risk is too high with Trump, and they endorse Harris, on the economic front, where he was supposed to be ‘better’, he will cut taxes, making the budget deficit astronomically higher, he keeps talking about tariffs with gusto, emphatically

In an interview with Bloomberg, he was told about the impact, when you raise tariffs, the cost is passed on to consumers, and then you have inflation, something for which he attacks Kamala Harris and Biden, but he will take to dangerous levels, especially if we will have the 20% on all, and thousands percent on some Chinese goods
Then there is the attack on democracy, what he did on January 6, 2021 and looks like preparing again, as I said, I mean as it is explained by so many, he insists he has won in 2020 (one of the tens of thousands of lies) and those hooligans and terrorists that occupied Congress are ‘patriots’, I mean what more do they need

You also have his talk about putting Liz Cheney in front of a firing squad (words to that effect) having the army set on ‘enemy within’, he wanted soldiers to shoot protesters in the leg, when he was president, talked about sending missiles into Mexico, love affair with Kim of North Korea, how he likes Putin, Xi…
So we need stoicism, Seneca https://realini.blogspot.com/2023/09/... has written about the Brevity of Life, among other things and it is indeed a waste of time to talk about a fool, also to speculate on what will happen, it is the old Zen Master Story, ‘we shall see, he keeps saying’ when the villagers alternate between sorrow, compassion, and mirth, he shows equanimity, for we do not know the future

Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se

There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know

As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...

Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works

‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’

‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’

“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despre Viata Fericita aka On The Happy Life by Seneca, one of the greatest philosophers of all time http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/t...

10 out of 10





There are plenty of reasons to read Seneca, and in particular his thoughts on happiness – after all, ‘To summarize from Pursuit of Happiness (2018), according to Aristotle, the purpose and ultimate goal in life is to achieve eudaimonia ('happiness')…He believed that eudaimonia was not simply virtue, nor pleasure, but rather it was the exercise of virtue, we are what we do repeatedly, excellence is not an act, it is a habit’ – hence if we get the secrets, we could rest easy, albeit there are more recent studies and august, magical works on happiness, such as The How of Happiness http://realini.blogspot.com/2014/07/t... by Sonja Lyubomirsky, which confirms some of the Stoic precepts



Studies in Positive Psychology have shown that we can change our level of Subjective Well Being aka SWB, we have about half of our life satisfaction inherited, the genetic material will predispose us to be negative or positive, then about ten percent depends on the place where we are born, live now (think Ukraine, invaded by Putin’s ghouls, Myanmar and other such places) and we can work with the remaining forty percent.

Seneca and the Stoics in general have emphasized millennia ago that Gratitude is paramount, indeed, one of their most important precepts was ‘wish for what you already have’ and we find in the new works of the experts on happiness that research confirms this ancient wisdom…Martin Seligman http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/11/f... is the co-founder of Positive Psychology and the author of important books in the field, he has also identified the Character Strengths, one of which covers Transcendence, and in that department, Gratitude is key, an essential component…



Buddhists and other philosophies http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/08/l... insist on the fact that cravings represent suffering, indeed, Nirvana, the ultimate state of grace is reached when one has no cravings left, desires for nothing, which is evidently untenable in the world of today, when it would be a fantastic achievement if we could consume somewhat less…there is the threat of an economic apocalypse though, what will happen if millions, billions will stop buying things, jobs will disappear, markets will tumble, Armageddon as we saw it in 2008

On the other hand, Seneca and the other Stoics do offer a doctrine that could save the world (as some insist rightly, the world would actually be humanity, the planet will stay on for some millions of years, even once humans will have disappeared from it) for if stopping consumption, shopping, will have disastrous effects, a Temperate attitude will do wonders in sparing resources that have been spoiled by us for centuries…



A classic of psychology is Flow http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/10/f... written by the other co-founder of Positive Psychology, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who has identified the conditions necessary for Peak Experience, Being in The Zone, or Flow ‘challenge–skill balance, action/awareness merging, clear goals, unambiguous feedback, intense concentration, control over the task at hand, loss of self-consciousness, transformation of time, and autotelic experience’

Finding about happiness from Seneca and contemporary authors will have multiple benefits, it is not just that this could be the ultimate goal, once reached there is Eudaimonia, Ataraxia, we have entered Arcadia, Shangri La, Eden, but the effects are spiraling, happy humans live longer, have more successful private, professional lives, they get sick less often and when they do, it is for shorter periods, they support democracy more than their opposites, and more importantly, they have a wondrous effect on others.



‘We are the average of the five people we see most’ and that must make us stop and think about the entourage, but here, the emphasis is on the fact that just as the others influence us, we have an effect on them, and therefore, our Subjective Well Being is not just a question of selfishness (such as is on display when we see the ultimate patient, suffering from extreme Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Trump, the one who has just had the verdict yesterday, he has to pay five million dollars for defamation and sexual abuse, Alhamdulillah) but when we are happy, we have a positive effect on those around

In The Tipping Point http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/08/t... the King of Psychology Malcolm Gladwell explains a good number of phenomena, including the fact that there are people who influence up to one thousand humans, one scholar speaks of the fact that he knows he has an impact on the mother of his son’s friend…Malcolm Gladwell explains the Harding Effect, The Thin Slicing Theory in his Blink, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.



A majestic read is Outliers http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/05/o... a Work of Absolute Magic, which could transform our life if you have not read it, for it explains how genius is created, and how ordinary people could find the formula to shine, by practicing, exercising for three hours every day for ten years, and then they have access to the top of the pyramid in a domain, provided of course they fulfill some elementary conditions (we cannot expect to be better than Usain Bolt, especially if we do not have the physique, say we are just 157 centimeters tall, which is no discriminatory element here, it is fine to have that or any height, it is just that it will not get the gold medal and Olympic records in running)

There is the essential Seneca to read, On Happiness and other subjects, but we also have some magnum opera to assimilate, works that will help us find happiness, radiate it to others, and some have been mentioned above… now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se



As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...