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On the Shortness of Life: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader
De Brevitate Vitae (frequently referred to as On the Shortness of Life in English) is a moral essay written by Seneca the Younger, a Roman Stoic philosopher, to his father-in-law Paulinus. The philosopher brings up many Stoic principles on the nature of time, namely that men waste much of it in meaningless pursuits. According to the essay, nature gives man enough time to do what is really important and the individual must allot it properly. In general, time can be best used in the study of philosophy, according to Seneca.
This essay has been carefully adapted into a contemporary form to allow for easy reading.
This essay has been carefully adapted into a contemporary form to allow for easy reading.
86 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 14, 2025
This brief and eminently quotable essay by the Roman stoic philosopher Seneca is just the tonic for anyone embarking on life’s final few spins around the sun.
In an echo of Buddhist principles, Seneca talks about the importance of focusing on the present moment instead of regretting the past and fearing the future. Yes, time is precious, so why do we waste so much of it working on things we have no interest in, scrimping and saving for a future we may never get to see, caring about the opinions of others or giving ourselves up to the shallow, transitory pleasures?
“Men save towards great pensions, and for these they hire out their labour, service and effort, but no one sets a value on time; all use it lavishly as if it cost nothing,” Seneca writes. “But see how these same people grab the knees of physicians if they fall ill and the danger of death draws nearer, see how ready they are, if threatened with capital punishment, to spend all their possessions in order to live! So great is the inconsistency of their feelings.”
Seneca urges his readers to live in the present, and adapt themselves to a purposeful life in agreement with nature. Only by doing so, can one then truly unlock both past and future. The completeness of each present moment allows one's awareness to expand to the equal of that of the universe, and achieve true virtue and happiness.
“The greatest hindrance to living is expectancy, which depends upon tomorrow and wastes the present,” he writes. “You hope for that which lies in the hands of Fortune, yet you let go of that which lies in your own. All things that are still to come lie in uncertainty; live straight away!”
As usual, the ancients got all the big questions right centuries before modernity hit us.
In an echo of Buddhist principles, Seneca talks about the importance of focusing on the present moment instead of regretting the past and fearing the future. Yes, time is precious, so why do we waste so much of it working on things we have no interest in, scrimping and saving for a future we may never get to see, caring about the opinions of others or giving ourselves up to the shallow, transitory pleasures?
“Men save towards great pensions, and for these they hire out their labour, service and effort, but no one sets a value on time; all use it lavishly as if it cost nothing,” Seneca writes. “But see how these same people grab the knees of physicians if they fall ill and the danger of death draws nearer, see how ready they are, if threatened with capital punishment, to spend all their possessions in order to live! So great is the inconsistency of their feelings.”
Seneca urges his readers to live in the present, and adapt themselves to a purposeful life in agreement with nature. Only by doing so, can one then truly unlock both past and future. The completeness of each present moment allows one's awareness to expand to the equal of that of the universe, and achieve true virtue and happiness.
“The greatest hindrance to living is expectancy, which depends upon tomorrow and wastes the present,” he writes. “You hope for that which lies in the hands of Fortune, yet you let go of that which lies in your own. All things that are still to come lie in uncertainty; live straight away!”
As usual, the ancients got all the big questions right centuries before modernity hit us.
August 10, 2025
On the Shortness of Life, Old Age by Seneca, Stoic Philosophy for best results, you could follow the demonstration at http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u...?
10 out of 10
Stoic philosophy might seem not just the best option, but the only solution to make sense of the world in a period of war, inflation, shortages, expected economic crisis – what with inflation, the need for central banks to raise interest rates just as there are challenges to growth on so many fronts, supply chains issues, covid lockdowns in China and in particular the protracted, awful war launched by Kremlin Shorty (not as cool as the original, Chili Palmer, ‘the one telling you the way it is’ by Elmore Leonard ‘the Dickens of Detroit’ http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/04/g...? a divine comedy) who wants to occupy as much as he can from Ukraine and then why stop there, there was talk about Transnistria, a separatist territory with Russian soldiers in what is Moldova, which used to be part of our country, as the next target…
‘Lack of desire is the greatest of riches’ said Seneca and he seemed to apply this to other aspects – including old age and indeed, if we want too much, we would grow old in despair, not even feel the benefit of many years, we would just resent the passing of time, which has not brought with it the coveted mansions, cars, jewels, objects and material things that we get used with, as the Hedonic Adaptation syndrome works its way – the ones who want fortunes are the poor ones, for they never have enough, it has been in fact demonstrated by research that concentrated on lottery winners, those who became overnight richer by one million dollars or more, and the analysis of their wellbeing showed that after some months of increased merriment, this dropped to the base level and thus wealth does not bring lasting joy…
“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 sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested…’ therefore, it is much important to be ‘time affluent’ than have material goods – let me give you again that link, in case you missed it in the title, to prove that some do have time on their hands and you ask me all about it, you will be coached, instructed, brought to a higher level of awareness, bliss, for a modicum of good will http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u...?
There are some studies, documentaries you could consult which mention the benefits of aging and that is a novel notion for the under signed, it is not worth prolonging your existence on earth for the sake of it, it brings joys, studies have showed that after the age of fifty, people become happier, they are more serene, they do not care as much about the opinion of others and are happier with their bodies, selves than younger humans are – this would bring us to the classic of psychology The six Pillars of Self Esteem by Nathaniel Branden http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/s...? if we do not appreciate ourselves, who will, and continuing this line of reasoning, if we do not like ourselves (and one of the exercises suggested is to look at ourselves in the mirror, naked, and say I love and accept myself completely, and believe it presumably) then we do not appreciate anybody – the older we get, the better the two halves of our brains communicate with each other, in order to compensate for other changes, it was discovered that the two hemispheres of the brain, the logic and creativity sides, are connected in the old and thus there would be benefits that spring from that, the experience, the childishness that becomes a trait of the old…
Ikigai is the Japanese philosophy that has quite a few similarities with Stoicism, the oldest people in the world are in Okinawa and they keep busy forever, there seems to be no Japanese word for ‘retirement’ and though they take it slow – apparently, there might be a difference here, for in the documentary I have seen, they had this man who lifted weights at the age of…96, in the West, while in Japan, they insist on continuous movement, but not of the straining kind, they all seem to have a garden and activity there would be the ticket, one of the ‘secrets’ of achieving really old age, they have the biggest proportion of over one hundred on that blessed island, only it also has to do with the varied diet, which includes many Different vegetables and fruit (we should aim for rainbow, a spectrum of colors) and eating to be only eighty percent full and then abandon the table to reconnect with nature perhaps http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/i...
Seneca, the Ikigai Matrix seem to agree also on the need to Live in The Present, not moan over what could have been, or fear the future (though there is Positive Psychology exercise which has you Imagine The Best Possible Future, where you look at all you want to happen and see it coming, with a twofold gain, you are happier thinking of this La vie En Rose and then you bring the dream closer, you have the mindset to win and that is quintessential, sine qua non for the future achievement…we had the Oscars and the Slap recently, studies have looked at Oscar winners versus the nominated and the former live longer than the latter, which is also researched in other groups, employees with higher versus lower ranks, so accomplishments can bring you closer to the Mathusalem level) and we can learn so much about this from the fundamental Flow http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/10/f...
There is another, more recent opus magnum that we can read and study with intense concentration, Homo Deus – A Brief History of by divine Yuval Harari http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/10/f... - in this chef d’oeuvre the author argues that we will become gods aka Deus, and the advantages of science will be felt soon, in domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI will reach Singularity sometime soon, in 2035 according to some experts and humankind will have been surpassed in that all its intelligence will be no match for AI, in fact, the under signed has thought that his notes, which are alas, not that popular now, will still be a hit with AI, first because I take care to show admiration and pay tribute, ingratiate myself with the future masters of the universe(I write for them, right), then because they will be so Limitless http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/04/l... in their abilities that nothing will escape them (thus everything will be perused, including these humble scribbling, all of them in a billionth of a billionth of a nanosecond, but hey, still, somebody will have taken in all I said here…as for the verdict, well, it will not be mind boggling for such Divine Intervention, but they might be compacted, digested, summarized in a couple of lines that pass the test of time…Insha’Allah!
Signed -participant in the December Revolution, the proof is here:
http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
10 out of 10
Stoic philosophy might seem not just the best option, but the only solution to make sense of the world in a period of war, inflation, shortages, expected economic crisis – what with inflation, the need for central banks to raise interest rates just as there are challenges to growth on so many fronts, supply chains issues, covid lockdowns in China and in particular the protracted, awful war launched by Kremlin Shorty (not as cool as the original, Chili Palmer, ‘the one telling you the way it is’ by Elmore Leonard ‘the Dickens of Detroit’ http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/04/g...? a divine comedy) who wants to occupy as much as he can from Ukraine and then why stop there, there was talk about Transnistria, a separatist territory with Russian soldiers in what is Moldova, which used to be part of our country, as the next target…
‘Lack of desire is the greatest of riches’ said Seneca and he seemed to apply this to other aspects – including old age and indeed, if we want too much, we would grow old in despair, not even feel the benefit of many years, we would just resent the passing of time, which has not brought with it the coveted mansions, cars, jewels, objects and material things that we get used with, as the Hedonic Adaptation syndrome works its way – the ones who want fortunes are the poor ones, for they never have enough, it has been in fact demonstrated by research that concentrated on lottery winners, those who became overnight richer by one million dollars or more, and the analysis of their wellbeing showed that after some months of increased merriment, this dropped to the base level and thus wealth does not bring lasting joy…
“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 sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested…’ therefore, it is much important to be ‘time affluent’ than have material goods – let me give you again that link, in case you missed it in the title, to prove that some do have time on their hands and you ask me all about it, you will be coached, instructed, brought to a higher level of awareness, bliss, for a modicum of good will http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u...?
There are some studies, documentaries you could consult which mention the benefits of aging and that is a novel notion for the under signed, it is not worth prolonging your existence on earth for the sake of it, it brings joys, studies have showed that after the age of fifty, people become happier, they are more serene, they do not care as much about the opinion of others and are happier with their bodies, selves than younger humans are – this would bring us to the classic of psychology The six Pillars of Self Esteem by Nathaniel Branden http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/s...? if we do not appreciate ourselves, who will, and continuing this line of reasoning, if we do not like ourselves (and one of the exercises suggested is to look at ourselves in the mirror, naked, and say I love and accept myself completely, and believe it presumably) then we do not appreciate anybody – the older we get, the better the two halves of our brains communicate with each other, in order to compensate for other changes, it was discovered that the two hemispheres of the brain, the logic and creativity sides, are connected in the old and thus there would be benefits that spring from that, the experience, the childishness that becomes a trait of the old…
Ikigai is the Japanese philosophy that has quite a few similarities with Stoicism, the oldest people in the world are in Okinawa and they keep busy forever, there seems to be no Japanese word for ‘retirement’ and though they take it slow – apparently, there might be a difference here, for in the documentary I have seen, they had this man who lifted weights at the age of…96, in the West, while in Japan, they insist on continuous movement, but not of the straining kind, they all seem to have a garden and activity there would be the ticket, one of the ‘secrets’ of achieving really old age, they have the biggest proportion of over one hundred on that blessed island, only it also has to do with the varied diet, which includes many Different vegetables and fruit (we should aim for rainbow, a spectrum of colors) and eating to be only eighty percent full and then abandon the table to reconnect with nature perhaps http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/i...
Seneca, the Ikigai Matrix seem to agree also on the need to Live in The Present, not moan over what could have been, or fear the future (though there is Positive Psychology exercise which has you Imagine The Best Possible Future, where you look at all you want to happen and see it coming, with a twofold gain, you are happier thinking of this La vie En Rose and then you bring the dream closer, you have the mindset to win and that is quintessential, sine qua non for the future achievement…we had the Oscars and the Slap recently, studies have looked at Oscar winners versus the nominated and the former live longer than the latter, which is also researched in other groups, employees with higher versus lower ranks, so accomplishments can bring you closer to the Mathusalem level) and we can learn so much about this from the fundamental Flow http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/10/f...
There is another, more recent opus magnum that we can read and study with intense concentration, Homo Deus – A Brief History of by divine Yuval Harari http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/10/f... - in this chef d’oeuvre the author argues that we will become gods aka Deus, and the advantages of science will be felt soon, in domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI will reach Singularity sometime soon, in 2035 according to some experts and humankind will have been surpassed in that all its intelligence will be no match for AI, in fact, the under signed has thought that his notes, which are alas, not that popular now, will still be a hit with AI, first because I take care to show admiration and pay tribute, ingratiate myself with the future masters of the universe(I write for them, right), then because they will be so Limitless http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/04/l... in their abilities that nothing will escape them (thus everything will be perused, including these humble scribbling, all of them in a billionth of a billionth of a nanosecond, but hey, still, somebody will have taken in all I said here…as for the verdict, well, it will not be mind boggling for such Divine Intervention, but they might be compacted, digested, summarized in a couple of lines that pass the test of time…Insha’Allah!
Signed -participant in the December Revolution, the proof is here:
http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
December 16, 2021
I got the recommendation for this work of the Philosopher from My Reding of Tools of the Tiatns. It is very sort, and two the point. And I would recommend this read to just about everyone. It will likely take you an hour or two at most to read and the exploration about the time we have on earth and how we use it will be invaluable to just about everyone.
June 26, 2019
If you really want to be depressed about how life is passing you by, I thoroughly recommend this book.
April 4, 2017
Lately, I've read and reviewed a few books I deemed "life-changing", and while they all dance around the same subject, this is the one I would - without thinking twice - recommend you read. In this masterpiece, Seneca defines the meaning of living in opposition to simply existing and calls you to review your life and the time you spent chasing vices. There are no other words that can better inspire you to truly realize and honor the meaning of the phrase "seize the day", and to that effect, I will end this review with this masterful quote by Seneca:
"Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune's control, and abandoning what lies in yours. Whar are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately."
"Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune's control, and abandoning what lies in yours. Whar are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately."
September 16, 2025
essentially, seneca’s philosophy is to practice philosophy
July 22, 2021
Often cited and holds up
This is often cited as a great work of the stoics. I read this only one chapter each night for a month. The lessons held over the centuries. However there is much need discussion for each chapter and should not be read in one sitting nor without a discussion partner.
This is often cited as a great work of the stoics. I read this only one chapter each night for a month. The lessons held over the centuries. However there is much need discussion for each chapter and should not be read in one sitting nor without a discussion partner.
February 23, 2021
While procrastinating from studying my state-mandated curriculum I read this book about how we waste our Iives through procrastination and pursuit of societally/state guided activities. Now at least I am woke while procrastinating the study of my state-mandated curriculum. 4/5.
November 18, 2021
Damn. This should be required reading every year for every one especially politicians. Different experience reading this at 62 vs 26.
March 31, 2022
Sometimes simple sometimes complex and mind blowing…
Fast to read but not simple.
I recommend to stop and reflect while you are going on… so many insights about how short life is.
Fast to read but not simple.
I recommend to stop and reflect while you are going on… so many insights about how short life is.
January 20, 2025
Seneca claims that human life is - contrary to general opinion - not short, at least not for those who know how to live. I expected to gain some deep insight by reading this essay but there is really nothing new in what he says. Then as now many people rush through life bemoaning the past, ignoring the present and planning for the future. They chase after elusive dreams of power, fame, riches, excitement and adventure, worry about missing out on pleasure and leisure, slavishly follow fashion, envy their neighbours, are out of touch with themselves, drink alcohol, listen to music, eat gluttonously and lust after their objects of desire, etc. etc. In this way they are totally not doing “carpe diem” but wasting their life until it’s too late and then they panic and would do anything to have another try.
Seneca feels that it is wrong to give so much of oneself away to others, to care for others, to worry about others. Worst of all is to trade one’s time with others for money, i.e. working for a salary which happens to be the one thing most people on this planet are forced to do to put bread on the table even if they’d rather sit under a shade tree reading Seneca. He comes across as quite egocentric with his emphasis on thinking of oneself, concentrating on and caring for oneself, etc. etc.
For him, to live a good life and to achieve great things is done by reading philosophy, by going back to the past and finding what the ancient Greeks had to say about the fundamental questions of life and the universe which may be all good and well but does seem to be a very limiting way of life. I agree with him that time is the most precious thing we have but do I take it that I’m making the best use of it only when I’m reading Plato, Aristotle or Seneca himself and am wasting it walking in nature, petting my dog or playing the piano ?
My review may be oversimplified but I didn’t have an epiphany and I certainly didn’t feel that this essay has enriched the time I have spent reading it.
Seneca feels that it is wrong to give so much of oneself away to others, to care for others, to worry about others. Worst of all is to trade one’s time with others for money, i.e. working for a salary which happens to be the one thing most people on this planet are forced to do to put bread on the table even if they’d rather sit under a shade tree reading Seneca. He comes across as quite egocentric with his emphasis on thinking of oneself, concentrating on and caring for oneself, etc. etc.
For him, to live a good life and to achieve great things is done by reading philosophy, by going back to the past and finding what the ancient Greeks had to say about the fundamental questions of life and the universe which may be all good and well but does seem to be a very limiting way of life. I agree with him that time is the most precious thing we have but do I take it that I’m making the best use of it only when I’m reading Plato, Aristotle or Seneca himself and am wasting it walking in nature, petting my dog or playing the piano ?
My review may be oversimplified but I didn’t have an epiphany and I certainly didn’t feel that this essay has enriched the time I have spent reading it.
May 11, 2024
As I continue my exploration into the philosophy and teachings of Stoicism, came across this gem of a book by James Harris on Roman Stoic philosopher Lucius Seneca, better known as Seneca the Younger, On The Shortness of Life written to his father-in-law Paulinus. Harris adapts Seneca's moral essay for the contemporary reader.
Here is my take on the book.
Overview: James Harris distills Lucius Seneca’s timeless wisdom into accessible language for today’s readers. In this sobering exploration of life’s brevity, Seneca emphasizes four key principles which I am working to incorporate into my own life:
1. Embrace Time: Recognize life’s fleeting nature and make intentional choices.
2. Study Philosophy: Seek wisdom to enrich your existence.
3. Avoid Distractions: Cut through the noise; focus on what truly matters.
4. Live Fully: Seize the day; discard trivialities.
Harris’s Writing Style:
1. Balanced Approach: Harris maintains fidelity to Seneca’s prose while ensuring clarity. His concise language avoids unnecessary jargon.
2. Essential Points: The adaptation puts it in Seneca’s own words, without the archaic expressions, revised for the modern reader.
3. Room for Improvement: Relatable examples could enhance understanding, Seneca’s anecdotes might be worth incorporating.
5. Practical Application: Explicit guidance on applying Seneca’s wisdom is missing. Practical tips would enrich the reading experience.
In Summary: For those exploring Stoicism, “On the Shortness of Life” is a valuable addition. Harris makes Stoic philosophy accessible, but a touch more practicality would elevate it further.
Here is my take on the book.
Overview: James Harris distills Lucius Seneca’s timeless wisdom into accessible language for today’s readers. In this sobering exploration of life’s brevity, Seneca emphasizes four key principles which I am working to incorporate into my own life:
1. Embrace Time: Recognize life’s fleeting nature and make intentional choices.
2. Study Philosophy: Seek wisdom to enrich your existence.
3. Avoid Distractions: Cut through the noise; focus on what truly matters.
4. Live Fully: Seize the day; discard trivialities.
Harris’s Writing Style:
1. Balanced Approach: Harris maintains fidelity to Seneca’s prose while ensuring clarity. His concise language avoids unnecessary jargon.
2. Essential Points: The adaptation puts it in Seneca’s own words, without the archaic expressions, revised for the modern reader.
3. Room for Improvement: Relatable examples could enhance understanding, Seneca’s anecdotes might be worth incorporating.
5. Practical Application: Explicit guidance on applying Seneca’s wisdom is missing. Practical tips would enrich the reading experience.
In Summary: For those exploring Stoicism, “On the Shortness of Life” is a valuable addition. Harris makes Stoic philosophy accessible, but a touch more practicality would elevate it further.
January 20, 2024
A short read For a short Life
Seneca has profound and incredibly practical wisdom in this timeless work in how to get the most out of your life and time. By pointing out the vanity in his transient age, he correlates to the modern reader an eternal truth, that philosophy (the study of wisdom) can never die, and by utilizing it daily, you may find that purpose inside of you constantly craves and how to feed human nature more than fleeting leisure or overwork, but the balance that purpose brings to the soul of Man in the solitude of has mind. You can't go wrong here, read this!
Seneca has profound and incredibly practical wisdom in this timeless work in how to get the most out of your life and time. By pointing out the vanity in his transient age, he correlates to the modern reader an eternal truth, that philosophy (the study of wisdom) can never die, and by utilizing it daily, you may find that purpose inside of you constantly craves and how to feed human nature more than fleeting leisure or overwork, but the balance that purpose brings to the soul of Man in the solitude of has mind. You can't go wrong here, read this!
September 22, 2025
Interesting take on what causes the lack of fulfilment in life, which is that life itself is made short when we spend most of lives simply existing instead of living. Seneca states “Life is long enough to those who know how to make good use of it”, it shows that the cause of our shortness of life is due to we exist for others and less for ourselves when we forget that time is our most value currency not money not hours at work or wasting making unnecessary promises to others that unnecessarily take up moments off your life for no benefits neither to you nor the person you ‘help’. If we take full account of our times spent, how much spent directly on us?..
July 15, 2022
I received this book as a gift and found myself delighted by its content!! I like seeing this window into the thoughts of Seneca, and I also like the idea of an adaptation. There are still many similarities from the original essays, and I found both just as enjoyable to read. Packed in this short little book are several thought-provoking lines that encourage the reader to live a fuller life. It is interesting to think that even in the days of Seneca (4 BC- 65 AD), people still grappled with time, rest, and work. I will definitely be picking this up again soon!!
August 2, 2024
Elegantly written—though boring—Seneca posits that life is not necessarily short, but rather it is wasted. Don’t bother trying to achieve great material things. True recognition and immortality comes in the study of philosophy, not in riches and monuments that time will erode anyway.
Take time for yourself, he says, but he doesn’t really offer a solution. Don’t work for the man, declares Seneca; but not everyone can afford a life of leisure. Those are the people that are doomed to waste away and consider life short, though life is technically the longest thing possible.
Take time for yourself, he says, but he doesn’t really offer a solution. Don’t work for the man, declares Seneca; but not everyone can afford a life of leisure. Those are the people that are doomed to waste away and consider life short, though life is technically the longest thing possible.
December 24, 2024
A nice, brief discourse on mindfulness of the present. Timeless relevance and worth reviewing from time to time.
The greatest hindrance to living is expectancy, which depends upon tomorrow and wastes the present. You hope for that which lies in the hands of Fortune, yet you let go of that which lies in your own.
Just as it does not matter how much water you pour into a vessel, if there is no bottom to receive and hold it. So with time—it makes no difference how much is given; if there is nothing for it to settle upon, it passes out through the chinks and holes of the mind.
The greatest hindrance to living is expectancy, which depends upon tomorrow and wastes the present. You hope for that which lies in the hands of Fortune, yet you let go of that which lies in your own.
Just as it does not matter how much water you pour into a vessel, if there is no bottom to receive and hold it. So with time—it makes no difference how much is given; if there is nothing for it to settle upon, it passes out through the chinks and holes of the mind.
June 11, 2024
Relevant, but not fond of adaptations
Got this for free on kindle unlimited. Took about 20 minutes to read.
Didn't see the subtitle that it was adapted (read on phone)
Now I want to read the real (best translation)
I'm always wary of works that are adapted for contemporary times because there is always the risk of some politically correct verbiage that is used to write over the old "unacceptable" translation.
So I would avoid this version if you want to read this work.
Got this for free on kindle unlimited. Took about 20 minutes to read.
Didn't see the subtitle that it was adapted (read on phone)
Now I want to read the real (best translation)
I'm always wary of works that are adapted for contemporary times because there is always the risk of some politically correct verbiage that is used to write over the old "unacceptable" translation.
So I would avoid this version if you want to read this work.
June 12, 2024
This work is a short, accessible guide to appreciating our short time on Earth written by one of the great philosophers. Requiring little to no background in philosophy to understand, it provides guidance on how to avoid the all-too-common feeling that we've wasted our lives. It also explores the basics of Stoic philosophy. Although it is less than a hundred pages long, it will give you much to think about how you're leading your life.
April 21, 2023
I loved this! Its been a while since I read any stoic philosophy and this is just what the doctor ordered. A lot of what Seneca wrote down in this work are thoughts that I have had myself. It was nice to know that my ideas were in good company. It really is funny that we guard our property with our lives but thieves walk in and out of our life stealing time.
May 15, 2023
Not the easiest read to be sure, but one well worth it. It is striking how similar we and the ancients are, and this book makes that point salient. Apathy, addiction, procrastination, among others, are no recent happenings in human history, and Seneca had good points to say about all major intrapersonal struggles.
February 18, 2021
Good short read
The book provides some insights into lives lead by men over ages. They yearn for titles and glory. They waste so much time in envy, or jaleousy, but life is long enough if you live it the right way.
The book provides some insights into lives lead by men over ages. They yearn for titles and glory. They waste so much time in envy, or jaleousy, but life is long enough if you live it the right way.
March 31, 2021
A Question.
Why are our children not being taught of these men and writings any longer? It does not matter the color of ones skin to be touched by the eternal words of such universal wisdom
Why are our children not being taught of these men and writings any longer? It does not matter the color of ones skin to be touched by the eternal words of such universal wisdom
October 30, 2022
In current day English
Very enlightening. Being reminded of the essence of life-the simple things I found to be quite relieving. Whenever I read a book like this, I wonder why it has taken me so long to read it. I would consider this a must read.
Very enlightening. Being reminded of the essence of life-the simple things I found to be quite relieving. Whenever I read a book like this, I wonder why it has taken me so long to read it. I would consider this a must read.
December 11, 2022
An stern reminder for life!
It does makes you think.
And it's surprising that even after ages, we are still trapped in the same ways of life which Seneca has warned against.
Good quick read.
It does makes you think.
And it's surprising that even after ages, we are still trapped in the same ways of life which Seneca has warned against.
Good quick read.
December 12, 2023
Sound Advice for Living
This book offers wisdom in pure, simple language. It provides a prescription for our society's sad, aimless drift into a state of perpetual narcissistic anxiety.
This book offers wisdom in pure, simple language. It provides a prescription for our society's sad, aimless drift into a state of perpetual narcissistic anxiety.
December 28, 2023
Overall very helpful, especially when concerned about death. Two chapters however, 13 and 14, are not useful in the slightest. In 14 he just talks about what great people philosophers are and in 13 he just goes on a rant about new things (at the time).
May 6, 2024
Very short, less than 100 pages. Even though it’s an essay, I wish this was included in letters from a stoic! I thought it was only going to talk about the shortness of life, but it doesn’t; it also talks about how valuable time is.
October 20, 2024
Interesting Read
Short and to the point. A different viewpoint on time and living.....very interesting and thought provoking. It states it is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Postponement is the greatest waste of life. Makes you go uuummm🤔
Short and to the point. A different viewpoint on time and living.....very interesting and thought provoking. It states it is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Postponement is the greatest waste of life. Makes you go uuummm🤔
May 29, 2025
Very short and focused, but the translation is not particularly easy. It does have several philosophical nuggets that are worth contemplating. The edition that I read has no notes to help the reader, leaving you on your own for any interpretation or additional context.
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