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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Wow, this book was shockingly good. Seneca spoke of many interesting points which still strongly apply to today. It has made me think about how to ensure my life is long, the meaning of grief and how to maintain tranquility. It’s like self help without the bullshit.
Sêneca discursa sobre o tema da brevidade da vida. A primeira ideia central é que precisamos viver já ao invés de deixar para depois. A duração da vida é desconhecida, afinal. E isso nos obriga a viver todos os momentos de modo completo e satisfatório ao invés de gastar nosso tão pouco tempo com futilidades.
Após essa primeira ideia central temos uma discussão sobre o que significa afinal aproveitar a vida e o que significa desperdiçá-la com inutilidades. Este ponto chegou para mim como uma reflexão cômica quase. De princípio parecia-me que o prazer da vida dele era o de criticar todos os modos de vida, dada a tamanha indignação com a qual ele os apresentava. A sua indignação com o corte de cabelo é um dos pontos divertidos.
Entretanto, ele vai formulando melhor e estabelece que vive mal aquele que pula seus momentos. Que vive em busca de prazeres momentâneos e irreais, de modo que entre um prazer e outro vive em mediocridade. Dentro disso é possível discorrer vários exemplos. E o que seria o viver bem? Seria se dedicar a coisas que acrescentem algo a você, que somem à sua existência. A ideia de que a atividade pensante (resumida, até por causa da época, à filosofia) é um dos geradores disso é bem interessante. De fato, quando alguém se dedica à atividade intelectual ele penetra em uma realidade na qual interage com todos os pensadores que já existiram e temos a mente se abrindo a novas ideia e novas concepções. Assim, os prazeres provenientes da atividade intelectual não são passageiros, eles vão se somando (claro, ignorando doenças degenerativas como Alzheimer).
Minha crítica a ele seria a fixação de que essa atividade pensante é a única virtuosa e o é para qualquer pessoa. As duas premissas são, a meu ver, falsas. Primeiro, não necessariamente todo ser humano garantidamente vai sentir prazer em uma atividade reflexiva, filosófica. Isso, para alguns, pode ser deveras entediante. Nesse caso, seria um desperdício de vida que essas pessoas, que não veem prazer na reflexão filosófica, dedicassem suas vias a ela. Em segundo ponto, e complementando o primeiro, a atividade nobre seria aquela que lhe concede um prazer permanente, seja ela qual for.
Posso partir exatamente da mesma formulação do Sêneca, apenas adicionando a ideia de prazer permanente como objetivo central. Nesse caso, atividades de contemplação da natureza (contemplar sem refleti-la, como quem olha um belo pôr-do-sol), a atividade artística e muitas outras poderiam também ser fontes de prazer. Resumindo para não me alongar nessa divagação pessoal: Uma vida bem vivida é aquela locupleta de atividades prazerosas.
Após essa primeira ideia central temos uma discussão sobre o que significa afinal aproveitar a vida e o que significa desperdiçá-la com inutilidades. Este ponto chegou para mim como uma reflexão cômica quase. De princípio parecia-me que o prazer da vida dele era o de criticar todos os modos de vida, dada a tamanha indignação com a qual ele os apresentava. A sua indignação com o corte de cabelo é um dos pontos divertidos.
Entretanto, ele vai formulando melhor e estabelece que vive mal aquele que pula seus momentos. Que vive em busca de prazeres momentâneos e irreais, de modo que entre um prazer e outro vive em mediocridade. Dentro disso é possível discorrer vários exemplos. E o que seria o viver bem? Seria se dedicar a coisas que acrescentem algo a você, que somem à sua existência. A ideia de que a atividade pensante (resumida, até por causa da época, à filosofia) é um dos geradores disso é bem interessante. De fato, quando alguém se dedica à atividade intelectual ele penetra em uma realidade na qual interage com todos os pensadores que já existiram e temos a mente se abrindo a novas ideia e novas concepções. Assim, os prazeres provenientes da atividade intelectual não são passageiros, eles vão se somando (claro, ignorando doenças degenerativas como Alzheimer).
Minha crítica a ele seria a fixação de que essa atividade pensante é a única virtuosa e o é para qualquer pessoa. As duas premissas são, a meu ver, falsas. Primeiro, não necessariamente todo ser humano garantidamente vai sentir prazer em uma atividade reflexiva, filosófica. Isso, para alguns, pode ser deveras entediante. Nesse caso, seria um desperdício de vida que essas pessoas, que não veem prazer na reflexão filosófica, dedicassem suas vias a ela. Em segundo ponto, e complementando o primeiro, a atividade nobre seria aquela que lhe concede um prazer permanente, seja ela qual for.
Posso partir exatamente da mesma formulação do Sêneca, apenas adicionando a ideia de prazer permanente como objetivo central. Nesse caso, atividades de contemplação da natureza (contemplar sem refleti-la, como quem olha um belo pôr-do-sol), a atividade artística e muitas outras poderiam também ser fontes de prazer. Resumindo para não me alongar nessa divagação pessoal: Uma vida bem vivida é aquela locupleta de atividades prazerosas.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Wether or not I agree on all that is said, I love reading these philosophies!
My notes on the essays:
On the shortness of life:
First letter.
Favourite passages:
- “You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire.”
- “The mind, when distracted, absorbs nothing deeply, but rejects everything which is, so to speak, crammed into it. Living is the least important activity of the preoccupied man; yet there is nothing harder to learn.”
- About foresight: “You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours…The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”
Thoughts:
- Seneca implores his friend to live a life of value to attain the belief of a long life lived. He should stay away from false passions both in profession and in the physical pleasures. Instead men should focus on attaining mental improvement, stillness and think on the betterment of men. The only legacy one can leave is the philosophical thoughts conjured up outside of society.
- I think this message is still pertinent. Living in the here and now is still invaluable and can indeed persuade us to keep the future as an unknown entity one cannot control. Keeping the mind on fate’s directions will keep us from enjoying our lives and make them feel rushed and unfulfilled.
- I do also think he speaks from a place of privilege unknown to this age. One can’t simply exit “society” to become a philosopher and step away from all material or physical obligations or pleasures. Still, I think refocusing the mind to the here and now can be applied to everybody’s day-to-day.
- Finally, Seneca’s urge to remove oneself from society and refrain from any lustful actions or relationships seems counterproductive to me. I do believe a live well lived should include other values that can benefit the quality and durability of live. These would include connection to others, depth in relationships and aiding others. In this regard, Seneca has a long list of grievances but offers only the solitary philosopher’s life as a solution, which seems limiting and small-minded.
Second letter:
Favorite passages:
- “Nothing satisfies greed, but even a little satisfies nature.”
- “In case you think I am simply using the teaching of philosophers to make light of the trials of poverty, which no one feels to be a burden unless he thinks it that, first consider that by far the greater proportion of men are poor, but you will not see them looking at all more gloomy and anxious than the rich. In fact, I rather suspect that they are happier in proportion as their minds have less to harry them.”
- “Therefore it is better to conquer our grief than to deceive it. For if it has withdrawn, being merely beguiled by pleasures and preoccupations, it starts up again and from its very respite gains force to savage us. But the grief that has been conquered by reason is calmed for ever.”
Thoughts:
- There are valuable lessons to learn from his words to his mother to find strength in various thoughts and the people around her. Mostly those of greed and grief, as exemplified above.
- However, it is easy for Seneca to preach the teachings of solitude, modesty and seclusion when he has been forced to live this way. His banishment was caused by the exact preachings he makes at a later state of his life. He was rich, influential and succumbed to a variety of pleasures throughout his life and so it seems he can preach, but not practice. It seems hypocritical to me.
- It seems to me that practicing what Seneca preaches would be hardest when situated in competitive society and easiest when removed. As proven by Seneca’s later life, it seems he too would fall back into the temptations of the vices available in normal society.
Third essay:
Quotes:
- “—dissatisfaction with oneself. This arises from mental instability and from fearful and unfulfilled desires, when men do not dare or do not achieve all they long for, and all they grasp at is hope: they are always unbalanced and fickle, an inevitable consequence of living in suspense.”
- “Then they are gripped by repentance for their attempt and fear of trying again, and they are undermined by the restlessness of a mind that can discover no outlet, because they can neither control nor obey their desires, by the dithering of a life that cannot see its way ahead, and by the lethargy of a soul stagnating amid its abandoned hopes.”
- “For the performer must always be stronger than his task: loads that are too heavy for the bearer are bound to overwhelm him.”
Thoughts:
- Serenus (what a lovely paradoxical name) shows a lot of inner turmoil and self-judgement for his lacking of stoicism. However, I truly believe it’s the awareness of his own mental & ideological “slips” that already set him apart and on the right path. His practice should, from my perspective, focus on practicing readjustment to the desired path without projecting negative judgment on himself. Nobody is perfect in elevating themselves above said vices, especially not without a lifetime of practicing the correction of their direction.
- It’s good to see Seneca changes his stance on solitary study and agrees that shunning oneself from all society and connection can only lead to further misery. I also believe, while he doesn’t say it outright, underneath his words lies the advice that any service one provides can have value if one gives value to it for themselves. Having pride and trust in the contribution one makes to society can offer real tranquility of mind.
- I also appreciate the advice Seneca gives to not set such lofty goals. We often overwhelm ourselves with strict rules and impossible targets. With these we set ourselves up to fail. Are we doing this on purpose in order not to have to change or accept the challenge of the long term goals?
My notes on the essays:
On the shortness of life:
First letter.
Favourite passages:
- “You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire.”
- “The mind, when distracted, absorbs nothing deeply, but rejects everything which is, so to speak, crammed into it. Living is the least important activity of the preoccupied man; yet there is nothing harder to learn.”
- About foresight: “You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours…The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”
Thoughts:
- Seneca implores his friend to live a life of value to attain the belief of a long life lived. He should stay away from false passions both in profession and in the physical pleasures. Instead men should focus on attaining mental improvement, stillness and think on the betterment of men. The only legacy one can leave is the philosophical thoughts conjured up outside of society.
- I think this message is still pertinent. Living in the here and now is still invaluable and can indeed persuade us to keep the future as an unknown entity one cannot control. Keeping the mind on fate’s directions will keep us from enjoying our lives and make them feel rushed and unfulfilled.
- I do also think he speaks from a place of privilege unknown to this age. One can’t simply exit “society” to become a philosopher and step away from all material or physical obligations or pleasures. Still, I think refocusing the mind to the here and now can be applied to everybody’s day-to-day.
- Finally, Seneca’s urge to remove oneself from society and refrain from any lustful actions or relationships seems counterproductive to me. I do believe a live well lived should include other values that can benefit the quality and durability of live. These would include connection to others, depth in relationships and aiding others. In this regard, Seneca has a long list of grievances but offers only the solitary philosopher’s life as a solution, which seems limiting and small-minded.
Second letter:
Favorite passages:
- “Nothing satisfies greed, but even a little satisfies nature.”
- “In case you think I am simply using the teaching of philosophers to make light of the trials of poverty, which no one feels to be a burden unless he thinks it that, first consider that by far the greater proportion of men are poor, but you will not see them looking at all more gloomy and anxious than the rich. In fact, I rather suspect that they are happier in proportion as their minds have less to harry them.”
- “Therefore it is better to conquer our grief than to deceive it. For if it has withdrawn, being merely beguiled by pleasures and preoccupations, it starts up again and from its very respite gains force to savage us. But the grief that has been conquered by reason is calmed for ever.”
Thoughts:
- There are valuable lessons to learn from his words to his mother to find strength in various thoughts and the people around her. Mostly those of greed and grief, as exemplified above.
- However, it is easy for Seneca to preach the teachings of solitude, modesty and seclusion when he has been forced to live this way. His banishment was caused by the exact preachings he makes at a later state of his life. He was rich, influential and succumbed to a variety of pleasures throughout his life and so it seems he can preach, but not practice. It seems hypocritical to me.
- It seems to me that practicing what Seneca preaches would be hardest when situated in competitive society and easiest when removed. As proven by Seneca’s later life, it seems he too would fall back into the temptations of the vices available in normal society.
Third essay:
Quotes:
- “—dissatisfaction with oneself. This arises from mental instability and from fearful and unfulfilled desires, when men do not dare or do not achieve all they long for, and all they grasp at is hope: they are always unbalanced and fickle, an inevitable consequence of living in suspense.”
- “Then they are gripped by repentance for their attempt and fear of trying again, and they are undermined by the restlessness of a mind that can discover no outlet, because they can neither control nor obey their desires, by the dithering of a life that cannot see its way ahead, and by the lethargy of a soul stagnating amid its abandoned hopes.”
- “For the performer must always be stronger than his task: loads that are too heavy for the bearer are bound to overwhelm him.”
Thoughts:
- Serenus (what a lovely paradoxical name) shows a lot of inner turmoil and self-judgement for his lacking of stoicism. However, I truly believe it’s the awareness of his own mental & ideological “slips” that already set him apart and on the right path. His practice should, from my perspective, focus on practicing readjustment to the desired path without projecting negative judgment on himself. Nobody is perfect in elevating themselves above said vices, especially not without a lifetime of practicing the correction of their direction.
- It’s good to see Seneca changes his stance on solitary study and agrees that shunning oneself from all society and connection can only lead to further misery. I also believe, while he doesn’t say it outright, underneath his words lies the advice that any service one provides can have value if one gives value to it for themselves. Having pride and trust in the contribution one makes to society can offer real tranquility of mind.
- I also appreciate the advice Seneca gives to not set such lofty goals. We often overwhelm ourselves with strict rules and impossible targets. With these we set ourselves up to fail. Are we doing this on purpose in order not to have to change or accept the challenge of the long term goals?
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Reading this book in the delivery room while my wife is beginning labour is extraordinarily sobering.
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
The third letter redeemed this book for me. In it he laid out concrete advice for living a fulfilling life and keeping tranquility of mind. I know the first two letters are highly regarded, and it may be that I didn’t fully understand, but I didn’t get much out of them other than that he was advising everyone to study philosophy above all else.
Magnificent lessons on life and how to tackle the problems in your life when they arrive.
Stoicism is the original "self-help" philosophy, teaching you discipline and self-control to ultimately have control over your life.
This book was excellent, short, but long to read, since it is densely packed with knowledge and every bit of information needs proper digestion in the mind.
There are a lot of quotes appropriate especially for today's fast-paced way of life. Even Seneca mentions how important it is to rest in life, mind and body. You can chase your goals, or a business, work on it all the time, but the mind needs recuperation, and taking a a small rest is not counterproductive but the opposite, you need it to properly function, especially long term.
“Often a very old man has no other proof of his long life than his age.”
Stoicism is the original "self-help" philosophy, teaching you discipline and self-control to ultimately have control over your life.
This book was excellent, short, but long to read, since it is densely packed with knowledge and every bit of information needs proper digestion in the mind.
There are a lot of quotes appropriate especially for today's fast-paced way of life. Even Seneca mentions how important it is to rest in life, mind and body. You can chase your goals, or a business, work on it all the time, but the mind needs recuperation, and taking a a small rest is not counterproductive but the opposite, you need it to properly function, especially long term.
“Often a very old man has no other proof of his long life than his age.”