002 Seneca: On Discursiveness in Reading

 

discursive. / (dɪˈskɜːsɪv) / adjective. passing from one topic to another, usually in an unmethodical way; digressive

"The primary indication, to my thinking, of a well-ordered mind is a man’s ability to remain in one place and linger in his own company."

"... reading of many authors and books of every sort may tend to make you discursive and unsteady. You must linger among a limited number of master thinkers, and digest their works, if you would derive ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind." 

Reading is not a passive exercise; the passing on knowledge from writer to reader. Reading is conversation and involves questioning and verifying the author. 

Reading many different opinions around a subject matter should be encouraged provided that, from these many readings, you derive opinions that are your own through critically engagement of the authors point of view. Focusing on a limited number of thinkers only through doubting the master thinkers. Remain critical of the thinkers and practice and question their views in our own context.

 "Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day."

Fortify means to protect and instead of looking to the external to provide fortification build an Inner Citadel. Nowhere is more peaceful, more free of interruptions, than your own soul. This is the purpose of Stoicism. 

 "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor [a slave]."

"Do you ask what is the proper limit to wealth?"

"It is, first, to have what is necessary, and, second, to have what is enough."

This might just be one secret to achieve a peaceful life. The need for more, to have what others have, that our material possessions own us as much as we own them and learning to let go of this materialism is freedom. 

 Seneca, Lucius  Annaeus. Seneca's Letters from a Stoic (Dover Thrift Editions: Philosophy) (p. 2). Dover Publications. Kindle Edition.