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.
- Yes, I don't change my opinion: avoid the crowds, avoid the few, even avoid the individual. I don't know anyone I'd be willing to share it with. And see what I have of your opinion; for I dare to trust you with your own self. Crates[1], they say, noticed a young man walking alone, and asked him what he was doing alone. – I am communing with myself – replied the young man. – Then – said Crates – be careful, you are talking to a bad man!
- When people are in mourning, or are afraid of something, we are accustomed to watching them so that we can prevent them from misusing their solitude. No reckless person should be left alone; in such cases, he only plans madness, and accumulates future dangers for himself or others; she puts her basic instincts into play; The mind shows what fear or shame used to repress; it sharpens your boldness, stirs your passions and incites your anger. And finally, the only benefit which solitude confers,—the habit of trusting no man, and of fearing no witnesses,—is lost by the fool; because he betrays himself. Remember, therefore, what my hopes are for you, or rather what I am promising, inasmuch as hope is merely the title of an uncertain blessing: I know no one with whom I would rather you associate, but I can same.
- I remember the grand manner in which you delivered certain phrases, and how full of force they were! I immediately congratulated myself and said: “These words did not come from the edge of my lips, these statements have a solid foundation. This man is not one of many, he has consideration for your real well-being.”
- Speak and live this way; take care that nothing holds you back. As for your previous prayers, you can free the gods from answering them; offer new prayers; pray for a healthy mind and good health, first of soul and then of body. And of course you should offer these prayers frequently. Appeal boldly to God; you will not ask Him for what belongs to another.
- But I must, as is my custom, send a small gift with this letter. It's a true proverb that I found in Athenodorus[2]"Know that you are free from all desires when you reach the point where you ask nothing of God other than what you can ask publicly“. But how foolish men are now! They whisper the vilest prayers to heaven; but if anyone hears them, they immediately shut up. What they do not want men to know, they ask God. I do not believe, then, that any advice as serious as this could be given to you: “Live among men as if God were watching you, speak to God as if men were listening".
Keep strong. Stay Well.
[1] Crates of Thebes (c. 365 – c. 285 BC) was a Cynic philosopher. Crates donated his money to live a life of poverty on the streets of Athens. Respected by the people of Athens, he is remembered for being the teacher of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. Several fragments of Crates' teachings survive, including his description of an ideal Cynic state.
[2] Athenodorus of Tarsus or Athenodorus Canaanite (ca. 74 BC – 7) was a Stoic philosopher. Born in Canana, near Tarsus (in what is now Turkey), he was a student of Posidonius of Rhodes, and teacher of Octavian (future emperor Augustus).
Letter 10 from Seneca to Lucilius: About living for oneself
“Greetings from Seneca to Lucilius. Yes, I don't change my opinion: avoid the crowds, avoid the few, even avoid the individual. I don't know anyone I'd be willing to share it with. And see what I have of your opinion; for I dare to trust you with your own self.”
In this introduction, Seneca establishes the central theme of the letter: the importance of living for oneself. He advises Lucilius to avoid the company of others, suggesting that true wisdom and peace come from within.
Crates and Solitude
“Crates[1], they say, noticed a young man walking alone, and asked him what he was doing alone. – I am communing with myself – replied the young man. – Then – said Crates – be careful, you are talking to a bad man!”
Seneca quotes Crates, a cynical philosopher, to illustrate the idea that solitude can be dangerous if one is not wise. He suggests that loneliness can lead to reckless thoughts and actions if a person lacks self-control and self-understanding.
The Danger of Recklessness
“When people are in mourning, or are afraid of something, we are accustomed to watching them so that we can prevent them from misusing their solitude. No reckless person should be left alone; in such cases, he only plans madness, and accumulates future dangers for himself or others; she puts her basic instincts into play; The mind shows what fear or shame used to repress; it sharpens your boldness, stirs your passions and incites your anger.”
Seneca warns against the dangers of recklessness in solitude. He argues that without proper wisdom and self-control, loneliness can lead to dangerous thoughts and actions.
The Importance of Self-Reliance
“Remember, therefore, what my hopes are for you, or rather what I am promising you, inasmuch as hope is merely the title of an uncertain blessing: I know no one with whom I would rather you associate but I really can."
Seneca emphasizes the importance of self-reliance. He suggests that the best company someone can have is themselves, as this allows for self-understanding and self-sufficiency.
Conclusion
“But I must, as is my custom, send a small gift with this letter. It's a true proverb that I found in Athenodorus[2]: “Know that you are free from all desires when you reach the point where you ask nothing of God other than what you can ask publicly.” But how foolish men are now! They whisper the vilest prayers to heaven; but if anyone hears them, they immediately shut up. What they do not want men to know, they ask God. I do not believe, then, that any advice as serious as this could be given to you: “Live among men as if God were watching you, talk to God as if men were listening.”
In the conclusion, Seneca offers one final piece of advice to Lucilius: live in such a way that your actions and words can be seen and heard by all. He suggests that true freedom comes from living a life of integrity and honesty, both in public and private.
"Keep strong. Stay Well.” With these final words, Seneca encourages Lucilius to remain strong and healthy, both physically and mentally. It emphasizes the importance of resilience and well-being in the pursuit of wisdom and self-reliance.
References
[1] Crates of Thebes (c. 365 – c. 285 BC) was a Cynic philosopher. Crates donated his money to live a life of poverty on the streets of Athens. Respected by the people of Athens, he is remembered for being the teacher of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. Several fragments of Crates' teachings survive, including his description of an ideal Cynic state.
[2] Athenodorus of Tarsus or Athenodorus Canaanite (ca. 74 BC – 7) was a Stoic philosopher. Born in Canana, near Tarsus (in what is now Turkey), he was a student of Posidonius of Rhodes, and teacher of Octavian (future emperor Augustus).
