On The Shortness of Life by Seneca

“On the Shortness of Life”  by Seneca is a short book (106 pages) published by  Penguin Books – Great ideas. The book has three essays : On the Shortness of Life, Consolation to  Helvia , On Tranquillity of Mind. I could pick up some  advice from this book  as follows.   Seneca writes:”It takes the whole of  life  to learn how to live , and – what will perhaps make you wonder more – it takes the whole of life  to learn how to die.”   Seneca is an educator of  young people. He gives down to earth , practical  everyday advice on  how to live  a wise  and joyful  human life.

          Organize every day as if it were your last.  Make time for philosophy. Share your time with better men than you , men like Socrates, Aristotle , Theophrastus, Epicurus, Zeno, Pythagoras, Democritus ,  Stoics and Cynics. None of these allows  anyone to depart empty-handed. You will have these  friends  whose advice  you can ask  on the most important  or the most trivial matters. The world expands on us  when we participate in the  great wisdom of the  philosophical tradition.

           “ If you have the strength to tackle any one aspect of  misfortune  you can tackle all. When once virtue has toughened  , the mind renders it  invulnerable  on every side. If you consider that sexual desire  was given to man  not for enjoyment but for the propagation of the race, once you are free of this violent and destructive  passion rooted in your vitals, every other desire will leave you  undisturbed.”

         It is better to conquer our grief than to deceive it. We must not evade it.  The grief that has been conquered by reason is calmed  forever.  Grief   which springs  from love  can   be diverted from its anguish  by philosophy or honourable occupation.

         If you write something , write it in a simple style for your own use and not for publication. Less toil is needed if you study only for the day.

Dont travel too frequently.  Many people make one journey after the other. As Lucretius says:” Thus each man ever flees himself”.

  What is public service? The man who teaches the young , who instils virtue in their minds, who grips and restrains those  who are rushing  madly after wealth and luxury, and if nothing more, at least  delays them , he too is doing  a public service , though in private life. If you apply yourself to study you will avoid all boredom with life , you will neither be a burden to yourself nor useless to others. But if we shun all society and, abandoning the human race , live for ourselves alone , this isolation , devoid of any interest , will be followed by  a dearth of worthwhile activity. Help your fellow citizens with unspoken support. At banquets , play the part of a good companion. Practice the duties of a man. Encourage others, cheer them on. Get used to your circumstances, complain about them as little as possible, and grasp whatever advantage they have to offer. What can happen to one can happen to all.

     A basic source of anxiety  is to assume a pose and not reveal  yourself openly to any one. Life of those who live behind a mask , is never  pleasant or free from care. Yet , a life which is open  too runs the risk of being scorned. But still , it is better to be despised for simplicity than to suffer agonies from everlasting pretence.

Mingle two things: solitude , and joining a crowd. There is a role of  relaxation , sleep, walks out of doors, fresh air and a clear sky. A wavering mind should be surrounded by attentive and unceasing care.

   Seneca wrote this  book in the year 49 AD , bringing up many Stoic principles. But  most of his advice is valid and practical even today.This is a true sign of a great work.  I recommend you to read it at least once.