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Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers
How to Do the Right Thing: An Ancient Guide to Treating People Fairly
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, short-changed, 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 readers 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, and with the original Latin on facing pages.
There are times when we've all felt that we haven't been treated as we deserve--that we've been misjudged, short-changed, 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 readers 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, and with the original Latin on facing pages.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published June 20, 2023
33 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Seneca
2,705 books3,863 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 21, 2024
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.
June 4, 2025
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.
September 5, 2023
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
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.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog
Author of The Saint's Mistress
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November 17, 2024This 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.
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.
July 18, 2024
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.
Overall, I felt the translation was decent but the analysis was underwhelming. I actually got more out of the author’s endnotes.
March 5, 2025
i am large-minded now
July 9, 2023
This is the second entry I've read in the "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers" series. While I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did Plutarch's "How to Be a Leader," I still thought it was very good. And it reinforced my observation in that review that - although it's not necessarily a popular view right now - I wholeheartedly believe that many "dead white males" still have important lessons to teach anyone willing to learn them.
The main reason I gave this entry in the series four stars instead of five is that it doesn't feel quite as modern and applicable as Plutarch's advice on being a good leader did. I don't think that's a reflection on Robert Kaster's translation. Rather, it's because Seneca relies on example after example from ancient times, which makes the content feel more ancient.
As was the case with the Plutarch work on leadership, this work is actually a collection from three of Seneca's works: "On Benefits," "On Mercy," and a collection of essays under the title "Dialogues." Kaster organizes this content into five different chapters and inserts his comments throughout. While I appreciated his insights, I did find that it weakened the flow of the book and made the translator too present.
Still, I enjoyed the work, including his insights, and will leave you with a few memorable excerpts:
"The cause of distress lies not outside us but within; it is settled in our very vitals, and because we do not know that we are ailing it is hard to find relief." [p. 59]
"The fact that we model our lives on others' is one source of our problems: we do not organize our lives according to reason but are led astray by fashion. Behavior we would not willingly imitate if we saw it only in a few we adopt when we see more people behaving that way, as if greater currency made it more honorable." [p. 69]
"The most important thing is this: that we not, like cattle, just follow the herd ahead of us, going where it happens to go, not where we should go. And yet nothing gets us into more trouble than organizing our lives according to what people say;...having many models, not good ones; and living not according to reason but by mimicry." [p. 75]
"Not everything that offends us harms us; it is our self-indulgence that drives us wild, provoking rage at whatever does not respond to our wishes...[People] acknowledge an injury in order to cause one." [pp. 113-114]
"People who have never learned do not want to learn." [p. 135]
"We should bring ourselves to see that all of humanity's common faults are not hateful but laughable...We should make light of it all and bear it indulgently: laughing at the way we live is more humane than lamenting. Add that the person who laughs serves the human race better than the one who grieves: the one gives it reason to hope, the other foolishly deplores what he despairs of seeing made better." [p. 151]
The main reason I gave this entry in the series four stars instead of five is that it doesn't feel quite as modern and applicable as Plutarch's advice on being a good leader did. I don't think that's a reflection on Robert Kaster's translation. Rather, it's because Seneca relies on example after example from ancient times, which makes the content feel more ancient.
As was the case with the Plutarch work on leadership, this work is actually a collection from three of Seneca's works: "On Benefits," "On Mercy," and a collection of essays under the title "Dialogues." Kaster organizes this content into five different chapters and inserts his comments throughout. While I appreciated his insights, I did find that it weakened the flow of the book and made the translator too present.
Still, I enjoyed the work, including his insights, and will leave you with a few memorable excerpts:
"The cause of distress lies not outside us but within; it is settled in our very vitals, and because we do not know that we are ailing it is hard to find relief." [p. 59]
"The fact that we model our lives on others' is one source of our problems: we do not organize our lives according to reason but are led astray by fashion. Behavior we would not willingly imitate if we saw it only in a few we adopt when we see more people behaving that way, as if greater currency made it more honorable." [p. 69]
"The most important thing is this: that we not, like cattle, just follow the herd ahead of us, going where it happens to go, not where we should go. And yet nothing gets us into more trouble than organizing our lives according to what people say;...having many models, not good ones; and living not according to reason but by mimicry." [p. 75]
"Not everything that offends us harms us; it is our self-indulgence that drives us wild, provoking rage at whatever does not respond to our wishes...[People] acknowledge an injury in order to cause one." [pp. 113-114]
"People who have never learned do not want to learn." [p. 135]
"We should bring ourselves to see that all of humanity's common faults are not hateful but laughable...We should make light of it all and bear it indulgently: laughing at the way we live is more humane than lamenting. Add that the person who laughs serves the human race better than the one who grieves: the one gives it reason to hope, the other foolishly deplores what he despairs of seeing made better." [p. 151]
December 21, 2024
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.
May 1, 2024
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.
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.
February 2, 2025
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.
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.
November 9, 2023
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
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
January 13, 2025
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.
May 5, 2025
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.
But overall I felt so slow and quiet tired reading this series.
June 23, 2023
Interesting read, already knew a lot of the information.
August 31, 2023
It was a decent read and great to see into the mind of one of the important figures in ancient history.
September 4, 2023
More of an amuse-bouche than a true deep dive.
January 4, 2024
This series is so mid idk why i keep reading
January 20, 2024
Great insight into Senecca’s mental model of righteousness, revenge and mercy
May 13, 2024
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.
May 17, 2024
shitty fucking book
June 2, 2024
Title sums it up I think
August 18, 2024
Very straightaway on stoicism through Seneca. Many good takeaways that are useful today
September 6, 2024
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.
January 16, 2025
forgot to log this a while ago haha
February 23, 2025
reasonably ok to read but don't go out of your way
May 9, 2025
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.
Will probably listen again every so often.
December 13, 2025
A huge proponent of Seneca's but On Mercy wasn't really my jam.
December 18, 2024
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.
I've been through these lessons a number of times. Excellent and thorough. Ongoing study.
January 15, 2025
If you like stoicism, you'll love this. If you like philosophy, you'll like this. Seneca's teachings certainly don't ring true for everyone, but I felt like there was a lot of wisdom to be gained from this book regardless of what branch of philosophy you subscribe to, even if it's just your own made-up branch. I read this book during a really hard period in my life where I could not stop being sad and angry at the world and at myself, and this book helped pull me out of it. If time heals all wounds, then Seneca could be thought of as the bandage.
December 14, 2025
A very good collection of thoughts and ideas by seneca on this matter clearly and insightfully explained by Kaster. While i always recommend reading the full original texts as well this is a very good point to start for someone less familiar with stoicism, but also bery usefull to someone who has already read more of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews