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Selected Works
Seneca the Younger was a playwright, essayist, lecturer (and tutor to the emperor Nero) who remains one of the most important Stoic philosophers.
Emphasizing both theory and practical advice, Seneca’s writing is perfectly suited to contemporary readers. He articulated the difficulties of living ethically and influenced many writers, including Marcus Aurelius, Michel de Montaigne, Dante Alighieri, Tertullian, Baruch Spinoza, and Edmund Burke.
Emphasizing both theory and practical advice, Seneca’s writing is perfectly suited to contemporary readers. He articulated the difficulties of living ethically and influenced many writers, including Marcus Aurelius, Michel de Montaigne, Dante Alighieri, Tertullian, Baruch Spinoza, and Edmund Burke.
224 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2024
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About the author
Seneca
2,483 books3,924 followersLucius 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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 30, 2025
Modern Day Relevant
As one of the great Stoics, Seneca has come to be a fountain of knowledge in modern times. Likely an influence to Marcus Aurelius and living around a century prior to his reign, Seneca was one of the major philosophers of ancient Rome under the emperor Nero. In Selected Works, his writings cover many of the crucial topics in practical morality, friendship, life, and death. These are largely written to his friend, Lucilius, who was governor of Sicily at the time.
Much like Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, Seneca’s writings still ring true today. Many of the topics covered therein, such as Saving Time, The Terrors of Death, The Shortness of Life, and Self Control, are just as applicable today as they were in 65 A.D. In today’s day and age of social media and mental health crises, you could argue that they’re perhaps even more important now than they were then. Although, each time in history has its own difficulties and tragedies.
If you’re looking for a deep, articulate expression of Stoic philosophy, the Selected Works of Seneca is a great place to start.
As one of the great Stoics, Seneca has come to be a fountain of knowledge in modern times. Likely an influence to Marcus Aurelius and living around a century prior to his reign, Seneca was one of the major philosophers of ancient Rome under the emperor Nero. In Selected Works, his writings cover many of the crucial topics in practical morality, friendship, life, and death. These are largely written to his friend, Lucilius, who was governor of Sicily at the time.
Much like Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, Seneca’s writings still ring true today. Many of the topics covered therein, such as Saving Time, The Terrors of Death, The Shortness of Life, and Self Control, are just as applicable today as they were in 65 A.D. In today’s day and age of social media and mental health crises, you could argue that they’re perhaps even more important now than they were then. Although, each time in history has its own difficulties and tragedies.
If you’re looking for a deep, articulate expression of Stoic philosophy, the Selected Works of Seneca is a great place to start.
February 6, 2025
Obviously fantastic starting material, although I would have appreciated some more insights and sources.
April 12, 2025
At times difficult to read, but many valuable and striking insights
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews