In the Shortness of Life was written by Seneca around the year 49AD. He argues that people waste so much time because we usually do not correctly worth it. We expend great work in protecting various other valuables such as money and house, but because time shows up intangible, we enable others to occupy it and devote some time from us. Smart people, on the other hand, understand that time is the best of all assets, and with effort can free of charge themselves from external control to activate in meaningful about Essays 10: For the Shortness of Life introspection and develop an intentional existence.

Seneca urges his visitors to live in today’s and adapt themselves to a purposeful existence in contract with Nature. Only in so doing, can one then really unlock both previous and potential. The completeness of every present moment enables one’s understanding to expand towards the equal of that from the universe, and achieve true virtue and pleasure.

The statements which urge Paulinus to retire from public existence are in notable contrast to Seneca’s advice in his essay Of Tranquillity of Brain to get public employments to be able to render lifestyle attractive. Nevertheless, in his related treatise, On Amusement, Seneca makes the point that there surely is no inconsistency and that one may serve the greater community in either or both tasks

Translation by John W Basore, produced by Vox Stoica

Seneca’s Essays Series:

1) Of providence – addressed to Lucilius

2) For the Firmness from the Wise Guy – addressed to Serenus

3-5) Of Anger (Books 1-3) – addressed to his sibling Novatus

6) Of Consolation – addressed to Marcia

7) Of the Happy Life – addressed to Gallio

8) Of Amusement – dealt with to Serenus

9) Of Tranquillity of Mind – attended to to Serenus

10) In the Shortness of Existence – tackled to Paulinus

11) Of Consolation – addressed to Polybius

12) Of Consolation – addressed to Helvia