How to Do the Right Thing: An Ancient Guide to Treating People Fairly

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers

by Seneca, Robert A. Kaster (Translator), Mike Chamberlain (Narrator)

How ancient Stoicism can help teach us to treat others—and ourselves—more fairly and mercifully

There are times when we’ve all felt that we haven’t been treated as we deserve—that we’ve been misjudged, shortchanged, or given a raw deal. And, at one time or another, other people have probably felt that we’ve treated them just as unfairly. How to Do the Right Thing draws on the principles of ancient Stoicism as articulated by the Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca to help listeners better navigate one of the most important practical questions of daily life—how to do right by others.

Starting from the virtue of magnanimity—the opposite of small-mindedness—How to Do the Right Thing draws together lessons from Seneca’s writings that stress the importance of calm and clear thinking, of judging oneself fairly before judging others, and of cutting people slack, with a bias toward mercy—all delivered in crisp and lively new translations.

Audiobook duration: 2 hours 13 minutes

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, History, Classics

3 pages, Audiobook

Published June 20, 2023

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

[Massimo Pigliucci]

Arguably one of the best entries in the always useful and intriguing Princeton Press series, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers. Translator Robert Kaster provides us with a fresh look and a personal guide to some of the best writings on living morally by the Stoic author Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Unlike other books in the series, Kaster has chosen to do much more than just translate and offer brief introductions. He groups together a number of entries from Seneca, scattered across his opus, into five themes: striving for magnanimity, being calm while thinking clearly, judging oneself fairly, doing right by others, and being merciful. The specific sources Kaster uses from Seneca include On Benefits, On Mercy, On Anger, On Tranquillity of Mind, On the Happy Life, On the Consistency of the Wise Person, and a number of the Moral Epistles to Lucilius. It is a tour de force of Seneca’s and Stoic thought concerning how to live a good life by acting ethically toward both oneself and others. The book is chock full of memorable quotations that are not just pretty sayings, but powerful reminders of the very essence of a human life worth living. Highly recommended.

[Kathryn Bashaar]

This short book is a good introduction to Seneca's thoughts on magnanimity, mercy, fairness and pardon. Not many 21st-century readers want to wade through classical philosophers' whole works. I like this series of Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series because they give you just enough, on a specific topic. An English translation, with commentary, is given right alongside the original Latin.

The topic of this one is fairness. Seneca's position is that we should approach others with a spirit of magnanimity, assuming the best about them until proven otherwise. At the same time, we should be critical of ourselves. We should fight the natural human tendency to see ourselves in the best possible light, while looking critically at others. He also parses the difference between pardon, forgiveness, mercy and clemency. Note that the Stoics are not fans of forgiveness. The Stoic position is one of justice. So wrongdoers should suffer some sort of consequences, although mercy would suggest that the punishment be somewhat lenient, and wisdom would suggest that it be designed to improve the wrongdoer and/or improve society in some way. Seneca's position reminded me a little of the modern movement towards restorative justice.

I liked this book. Kaster made Seneca understandable and relevant to a 21st-century reader. I would read more books in this series.

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Author of The Saint's Mistress

[LPosse1 Larry]

I like these little books good modern translations that give you a small helping of philosophy. This one does the same! You can find better sources but this is a nice entry way to Seneca’s brand of stoicism.

[Nikhil Math]

This book teaches the reader a lot of broad values.

Seneca writes about how we should think with a 'larger' mind and realize we are not all independent individuals but parts of a single whole. We must work together, show mercy, and treat each other fairly.

If you would like to learn about those lessons, this book is for you. I suggest it. It is a simple read with a lot of ancient wisdom behind it.

[Jason Watkins]

A short read covering the author’s translations and analysis of some of Seneca’s essays, but mainly, On Benefits, and On Mercy. The author categorically discusses Seneca’s major works through 5 chapters which highlight Seneca’s contribution to stoicism: Striving for Magnanimity; Being Calm, and Thinking Clearly; Judging Yourself Fairly; Doing Right by Others; Being Merciful

Overall, I felt the translation was decent but the analysis was underwhelming. I actually got more out of the author’s endnotes.

[madison]

i am large-minded now

[Chad Manske]

Seneca's "How to Do the Right Thing: An Ancient Guide to Treating People Fairly," expertly curated and translated by Robert A. Kaster, offers a timeless perspective on one of life's most fundamental challenges: how to treat others with fairness and compassion. This collection of Seneca's writings, drawn primarily from his "Dialogues" and "Moral Epistles," provides a practical guide to navigating the complexities of human interactions through the lens of Stoic philosophy. The book is organized around five key aspects of fairness: striving for magnanimity, maintaining calm and clear thinking, judging oneself fairly, doing right by others, and practicing mercy. Seneca's insights are presented in crisp, accessible language that resonates with modern readers while retaining the depth of ancient wisdom. At the heart of Seneca's teachings is the concept of magnanimity, or "large-mindedness," which he positions as the antithesis of small-mindedness and self-centeredness. This foundational virtue serves as the bedrock for treating others fairly and cultivating a more expansive, noble approach to life. Seneca emphasizes the importance of emotional resilience and rational thinking in our dealings with others. He encourages readers to evaluate situations thoroughly, consider others' intentions, and practice empathy. By doing so, we can avoid hasty judgments and respond to others with greater understanding and fairness. One of the book's most compelling aspects is Seneca's call for self-reflection and self-criticism. He argues that to treat others fairly, we must first judge ourselves honestly and moderate our sense of entitlement. This introspective approach fosters humility and a more balanced perspective on our interactions with others. Kaster's thoughtful curation and commentary provide valuable context, making Seneca's ancient wisdom accessible and relevant to contemporary readers. The inclusion of the original Latin text alongside the English translation adds depth for those interested in the source material. While rooted in Stoic philosophy, "How to Do the Right Thing" offers practical advice that transcends philosophical boundaries. It serves as both a guide to personal growth and a reminder of our shared humanity, encouraging readers to cultivate fairness, empathy, and wisdom in their daily lives.

[Levi]

Robert Kaster has selected and translated excerpts written by Seneca the Younger. These essays and scriptures provide lectures and advice on how to treat ourselves and others fairly, alongside doing the right thing for ourselves, for our friends, family and for society.

My personal mind blowing fascination with Stoicism is how the advice and essays of one written over 2000 years ago, can hold true to us in the modern age. Life was far worse for the Greeks and the Romans than it is for those born at the time of writing, and yet out of this society was a school of philosophy born to teach young men and women how to act, how to live, how to govern, and how to be at peace.

I will continue to work my way through the Ancient Guides written by the Princeton University Press, they are nothing less than excellent.

[Chris Tynan]

This was another solid entry in the Princeton Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series, though it didn't resonate with me as strongly as others.

While the wisdom and selection of texts were excellent, I didn't love the translation or the context provided-it felt a bit lacking compared to other books in the series.

That said, the Stoic principles explored here are as valuable as ever. Seneca's thoughts on magnanimity, clear thinking, and self-reliance offer timeless lessons, reminding us that true fairness begins with sorting ourselves out first. There were plenty of passages worth reflecting on, even if the overall presentation didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Still, a worthwhile read for those interested in Stoicism- just not my favourite edition in this series.

[Ben Kelly]

An accessible discussion of Soticism and some of its major themes and principles.

Broken down into 5 chapters this guided analysis of Seneca's writings managed to remain entertaining as well as academic.

Can see myself revisting this book (or portions of it In future) as a tool for understanding and exploring my own values and feelings as they evolve

[James Crowley]

2nd stoicism book down. This book was bought for me by an old couple I met in Barnes and Noble in 2023. It was the best encounter with strangers I've ever had. I liked this book and think I learned a good bit. His translations and explanations alongside the excerpts were helpful and insightful.

[Ms.TDA]

As we mature, ideally, we should come to understand “good” and “bad” only in terms of what helps or hinders us as rational creatures: wisdom, virtue, a mind attuned to the providential order of the universe-or their absence.

But overall I felt so slow and quiet tired reading this series.

[Sarah]

I really enjoyed reading this even though it took so long! Read it out loud with my best friend and we enjoyed picking it apart. It was a little confusing and there were parts that felt slow. Happy to have finished my first book in literal years.

[Antagonist]

Interesting read, already knew a lot of the information.

[noor x]

It was a decent read and great to see into the mind of one of the important figures in ancient history.

[Patrick Hanlon]

More of an amuse-bouche than a true deep dive.

[Autumn]

This series is so mid idk why i keep reading

[Omar Khedr]

Great insight into Senecca’s mental model of righteousness, revenge and mercy

[Michael Jeffries]

Great words of wisdom and greatly woven together for a readable and concise work. I’m really under the impression that Seneca had some biblical knowledge he weaves into his lexicon.

[Jjikjiohugpo]

shitty fucking book

[Logan]

Title sums it up I think

[John Harris]

Very straightaway on stoicism through Seneca. Many good takeaways that are useful today

[Mohammed]

Robert Kaster has done a great job selecting and translating these works from Seneca. the book runs a bit short but its pretty good overall. Will be recommended to my friends.

[Amelia Layton]

forgot to log this a while ago haha

[Sarah]

A nice quick read if you want a good collection of Seneca’s work in an easily digestible format.

Will probably listen again every so often.

[Mukund]

A huge proponent of Seneca's but On Mercy wasn't really my jam.

[Adam Revay]

A very brief overview of Seneca's writings. This book would've been vastly better if the author had spent more time providing their flavour and analysis, than simply sharing Seneca quotes.

[Elle Desjardins]

Wanted more Seneca in this translation

[SeaShore]

The Statesman, Seneca directs us "To do the Right Thing" through the lessons of Stoicism. Excellent.
I've been through these lessons a number of times. Excellent and thorough. Ongoing study.

[Alexander]

I would have appreciated much more analysis on the wide range of Seneca's excerpts selected in this book. I'm still new to Stoicism so this book was helpful in exposing me to some of the tenets of this philosophy, including ones I don't agree with (oppression and physical pain are not objectively bad?). This just reinforced my desire to pick up the original works and engage with more in-depth analysis.