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Letters From A Stoic | Moral Letters To Lucilius
The Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Latin for "Moral Letters to Lucilius"), also known as the Moral Epistles and Letters from a Stoic , is a collection of 124 letters that Seneca the Younger wrote at the end of his life, during his retirement, after he had worked for the Emperor Nero for more than ten years. They are addressed to Lucilius Junior, the then procurator of Sicily, who is known only through Seneca's writings. Regardless of how Seneca and Lucilius actually corresponded, it is clear that Seneca crafted the letters with a broad readership in mind. The letters often begin with an observation on daily life, and then proceed to an issue or principle abstracted from that observation. The result is like a diary, or handbook of philosophical meditations. The letters focus on many traditional themes of Stoic philosophy such as the contempt of death, the stout-heartedness of the sage, and virtue as the supreme good.
- GenresPhilosophyClassics
467 pages, Paperback
Published May 3, 2022
23 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Seneca
2,711 books3,883 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 9, 2025
went to therapy after this book, in a good way.
February 18, 2023
Wow, I finally finished listening to this recording and I have to admit, it was challenging. If anyone wants to have their own brain served to them scrambled with a side dish of insanity then go ahead and listen to it non stop for over 24 hours. The effects of sleep deprivation and deluge of disparate philosophical ideas will comatose anybody.
Some of the topics discussed in “Moral letters to Lucilius” are: friendships, death, fasting , retirement, suicide, virtue, travel, immortality and more. That is why I took my time and listened to this recording in segments.
My observations: before embarking on a one way crusade to slain or tame this philosophical chimera the reader should be familiar with two things.
First, the reader should be familiar with the philosophical principles of stoicism. This is crucial in my opinion because the main reason why the literature of Lucius A. Seneca experiences its resurrection is today’s rekindling in interest in Stoic philosophy, which his literary works represent.
Second, the reader should be familiar with the ethical philosophy of Epicurus. In almost every letter of “Moral letters to Lucilius” Seneca makes a reference to what Epicurus said or wrote on a given topic. Some letters are based entirely on the works of Epicurus and become void of meaning if the reader is not familiar with it.
Once the above conditions are satisfied, the reading of “Moral letters to Lucilius” becomes quite enjoyable. Having it read once I would reread only chapters whose topics are of interest to me. For example, if the Stoic side of me ponders the significance of having friends, I would reread the chapters on friends and friendship.
As to why I recommend not only reading but also rereading Seneca’s “Moral letters to Lucilius“ - in his own words:
“… you must linger among the limited number of master thinkers and digest their works if you would derive ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind …”
Some of the topics discussed in “Moral letters to Lucilius” are: friendships, death, fasting , retirement, suicide, virtue, travel, immortality and more. That is why I took my time and listened to this recording in segments.
My observations: before embarking on a one way crusade to slain or tame this philosophical chimera the reader should be familiar with two things.
First, the reader should be familiar with the philosophical principles of stoicism. This is crucial in my opinion because the main reason why the literature of Lucius A. Seneca experiences its resurrection is today’s rekindling in interest in Stoic philosophy, which his literary works represent.
Second, the reader should be familiar with the ethical philosophy of Epicurus. In almost every letter of “Moral letters to Lucilius” Seneca makes a reference to what Epicurus said or wrote on a given topic. Some letters are based entirely on the works of Epicurus and become void of meaning if the reader is not familiar with it.
Once the above conditions are satisfied, the reading of “Moral letters to Lucilius” becomes quite enjoyable. Having it read once I would reread only chapters whose topics are of interest to me. For example, if the Stoic side of me ponders the significance of having friends, I would reread the chapters on friends and friendship.
As to why I recommend not only reading but also rereading Seneca’s “Moral letters to Lucilius“ - in his own words:
“… you must linger among the limited number of master thinkers and digest their works if you would derive ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind …”
February 17, 2024
This has been one of the most eye opening books that i have read. It gives you a taste of how to live life, how to be a good virtuous person and how to improve everyday. It gives you the will to become better and wiser. Absolutely blew my mind.
January 14, 2024
I can now levitate
June 25, 2024
“fuck it we ball” + “tonight we dine in hell” & “I wouldn’t mind being killed by a freak accident” all had a bit too much to drink one night & one thing led to another.
January 15, 2026
Read certain chapters for honors but liked it. I would like to revisit and read the whole thing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews