The wise man is self-sufficient

“The wise man is self-sufficient.” This phrase, my dear Lucilius, is incorrectly explained by many; for they withdraw the wise man from the world, and force him to dwell within his own skin. But we must mark with care what this sentence signifies and how far it applies; the wise man is sufficient unto himself for a happy existence, but not for mere existence. For he needs many helps towards mere existence; but for a happy existence he needs only a sound and upright soul, one that despises Fortune.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

004 Seneca: On the Terrors of Death

"KEEP ON AS you have begun, and make all possible haste, so that you may have longer enjoyment of an improved mind, one that is at peace with itself." What is the better way to live? To live to be happy, or live to be at peace?  To live to be happy means persuing with ambition to acquire a fleeting moment that will pass in time. It's a reinforcing spiral. Happiness can never be achieved. Peacefulness is being content with what is there. It's point in time where there is no need for anything.  "No man can have a peaceful life who thinks too much about lengthening it, or believes that living through many consulships is a great blessing. Rehearse this thought every day, that you may be able to depart from life contentedly; for many men clutch and cling to life, even as those who are carried down a rushing stream clutch and cling to briars and sharp rocks." Being afraid to die implies being scared to live. The long life is not the good life.  Learn to let go. Ev
Read more

003 Seneca: On True and False Friendship

"If you consider any man a friend whom you do not trust as you trust yourself, you are mightily mistaken and you do not sufficiently understand what true friendship means." "Ponder for a long time whether you shall admit a given person to your friendship; but when you have decided to admit him, welcome him with all your heart and soul."  "As to yourself, although you should live in such a way that you trust your own self with nothing which you could not entrust even to your enemy, yet, since certain matters occur which convention keeps secret, you should share with a friend at least all your worries and reflections." "Regard him as loyal, and you will make him loyal." "There is a class of men who communicate, to anyone whom they meet, matters which should be revealed to friends alone, and unload upon the chance listener whatever irks them. Others, again, fear to confide in their closest intimates; and if it were possible, they would not trus
Read more

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 crit
Read more