Below I present one of Seneca's letters to Lucilius, available at The Stoic, a wonderful site about stoicism and responsible for the translations of Seneca's letters. At the end I added several reflections to deepen the content of the letter.
Greetings from Seneca to Lucilius.
- Keep as you began, and hasten to do what is possible, so that you may derive more pleasure from an improved mind that is at peace with itself. No doubt you will derive pleasure during the time you are improving your mind and are at peace with yourself, but the pleasure that comes from contemplation when the mind is so clear that it shines is far greater.
- You remember, of course, what joy you felt when you put aside your childhood clothes and donned a man's toga.[1], and was escorted to the forum; yet you may look forward to greater joy when you have laid aside the mind of childhood and when wisdom has enrolled you among men. For it is not childhood that still remains with us, but something worse, – childishness, and this condition is all the more serious as we possess the authority of old age in conjunction with the folly of childhood, yes, even the follies of childhood. Boys fear unimportant things, children fear shadows, we fear both.
- All you need to do is move forward; you will understand that some things are less fearful, precisely because they stimulate us with great fear. No evil is so great as is the last evil of all. Death comes; it would be a thing to fear, if it could stay with you. But death must not come, or else it must come and pass away.
- “It is difficult, however,” you say, “to bring the mind to a point where it can belittle life.” But don't you see what insignificant reasons impel men to despise life? One hangs himself in front of his lover's door; another throws himself out of the house to no longer be forced to endure the taunts of a bad-tempered master; a third, to be saved from prison, plunges a sword into his vital organs. Don't you think that virtue will be as effective as excessive fear? No man can have a peaceful life who thinks too much of lengthening it, or believes that living by many assignments is a great blessing.
- Go over this thought every day, so that you can leave life content; for many men cling and cling to life, even as those who are carried away by a current cling and cling to sharp stones. Most men ebb and flow in misery between the fear of death and the difficulties of life; they are not willing to live, and yet they do not know how to die.
- For this reason, make life as a whole pleasant for yourself by banishing all worries about it. No good thing makes its possessor happy unless his mind is attuned to the possibility of loss; Nothing, however, is lost with less discomfort than that which, when lost, is not missed. Therefore, encourage and harden your spirit against the mishaps that afflict even the most powerful.
- For example, Pompey's destiny was established by a boy and a eunuch, Crassus's by a cruel and insolent Persia. Gaius Caesar ordered Lepidus to bare his neck for Dexter's axe; and he himself offered his own throat to Cassius Chereia[2]. No man was ever so guided by fortune that she did not threaten him as greatly as she had previously favored him. Don't trust the appearance of calm; in a moment the sea stirs to its depths. On the same day that the ships made a valiant showing in the games, they were swallowed up.
- Reflect that a bandit or an enemy can cut your throat; and, although not your master, each slave exercises the power of life and death over you. Therefore, I declare to you: he who despises it is master of his life. Think of those who died by conspiracy in their own home, killed openly or by artifice; you will notice that as many were killed by angry slaves as by angry kings. What does it matter, then, how powerful who you fear is, when each person possesses the power that inspires your fear?
- “But,” you will say, “if you should fall into the hands of the enemy, the conqueror will order you to be taken,” – yes, where you were already being led. Why do you willingly deceive yourself and demand to be told now for the first time what fate has long awaited you? Believe me: since you were born you have been led there. We must reflect on this thought, and similar thoughts, if we wish to be calm as we wait for this last hour, the fear of it makes all the previous hours uncomfortable.
- But I need to finish my letter. Let me share with you the proverb that pleased me today. He is also selected from another man's garden[3]: “Poverty placed in accordance with the law of nature, is great wealth.” Do you know what limits the law of nature orders for us? Just avoid hunger, thirst and cold. In order to banish hunger and thirst, it is not necessary for you to court at the doors of the rich, or submit to the stern gaze, or the humiliating kindness; nor is it necessary for you to roam the seas, or go to war; the needs of nature are easily provided and are always at hand.
- They are the superfluous things that men toil for, the superfluous things that wear our togas to tatters, that force us to grow old in camp, that drive us to foreign shores. What is enough is ready and within reach of our hands. He who has made a fair pact with poverty is rich.”
Keep strong. Stay Well.
[1] The pretext toga, with a purple border, was replaced by the virile toga, entirely white, at the age of 16, when the young man was introduced to public life in the forum, a square where political and judicial speeches were made, as well as commercial transactions. The toga pretexta was also used by senators and magistrates.
[2] Cássio Quereia: there are reports that state that Emperor Caligula constantly humiliated him for his supposedly effeminate manners. In revenge, together with his colleague Cornelius Sabino, he plotted against the emperor and in January 41, he claimed his victims; also murdering Caligula's wife.
[3] The Garden of Epicurus.
Reflections on Seneca's Letter 4: Demystifying the Terrors of Death
Letter 4 from Seneca to Lucilius, entitled “On the Terrors of Death”, provides a deep dive into the human condition and our relationship with death, a journey of self-knowledge and emotional maturity. Each excerpt from the letter reveals relevant aspects that intertwine with the principles of Stoicism. This article sets out to explore and reflect on these passages, aligning them with Stoic teachings.
The Beginning of Self-Improvement
“Stay as you began, and hasten to do what is possible, so that you may have more pleasure from an improved mind that is at peace with itself.”
Seneca highlights the importance of continuous self-improvement and the search for inner peace. This is the foundation of Stoicism, which encourages us to focus on what is within our control and cultivate virtue to achieve a peaceful mind.
The Transition to Maturity
“You remember, of course, what joy you felt when you laid aside your childhood garments and donned a man's toga[1], and were escorted to the forum; yet you may look forward to greater joy when you have laid aside the mind of childhood and when wisdom has enrolled you among men.”
The analogy between the transition from childhood to adulthood and the transition from ignorance to wisdom is powerful. The search for wisdom and overcoming mental “childhood” are seen as crucial steps in the Stoic journey.
The Irrational Fear
“Boys fear unimportant things, children fear shadows, we fear both. All you need to do is move forward; you will understand that some things are less fearful, precisely because they stimulate us with great fear.”
Facing fear, especially the fear of death, is a recurring theme in Stoicism. Seneca reminds us that many of our fears are unfounded or exaggerated, and that through reason, we can overcome these fears and live with courage.
The Acceptance of Death
“Death comes; it would be a thing to fear, if it could stay with you. But death must not come, or else it must come and pass away.”
The calm acceptance of death is a fundamental principle of Stoicism. By understanding death as a natural part of life and not something to be feared, we can live with greater purpose and serenity.
The Inadequate Valuation of Life
“No man can live a peaceful life who thinks too much of lengthening it, or believes that living through many assignments is a great blessing.”
An obsession with longevity can lead to a life of anxiety and fear. Seneca encourages us to focus on the quality of life, living according to virtue, rather than worrying about the length of our existence.
The Importance of Resilience
“No good thing makes its possessor happy unless his mind is attuned to the possibility of loss; Nothing, however, is lost with less discomfort than that which, when lost, is not missed.”
The Stoic teaching of resilience and acceptance shines here. By harmonizing with impermanence, we cultivate a resilience that allows us to face adversity with equanimity.
The Turns of Fortune
“No man was ever so guided by fortune that she did not threaten him as greatly as she had previously favored him.”
The instability of fortune is a reminder to not base our happiness on external circumstances, but rather on our internal character and virtue, which are within our control.
Simplicity and Inner Wealth
“Poverty placed in conformity with the law of nature is great wealth.”
The appreciation of simplicity and the recognition that true wealth lies in inner contentment, not material possessions, echo the Stoic principles of self-reliance and contentment.
Seneca's Letter 4 is an invitation to introspection, self-improvement, and courageous acceptance of life and death. As we reflect on these passages, we find a rich tapestry of Stoic insights that can guide our path toward living a full and virtuous life.
