In Letter 60, “On Harmful Prayers,” focuses on Seneca’s criticism of misguided desires and prayers, reflecting on how often people, including those closest to us, wish for things that are not truly beneficial. He elaborates on the Stoic ideal that true blessings come from within and that external desires often lead to discontent and moral decay. This letter is a profound meditation on the nature of desire, the folly of excessive consumption, and the virtues of self-reliance and simplic
Seneca begins by questioning the traditional wishes made for us by our caretakers, highlighting how these might not align with what’s genuinely good for us: “I file a complaint, I enter a suit, I am angry. Do you still desire what your nurse, your guardian, or your mother, have prayed for in your behalf? Do you not yet understand what evil they prayed for? He criticizes the common practice of depending excessively on external sources for sustenance and comfort, challenging the reader to reconsider what it means to live independently: “How long shall we go on making demands upon the gods, as if we were still unable to support ourselves?”
"How long shall we go on making demands upon the gods, as if we were still unable to support ourselves?"
Seneca contrasts the modest needs of animals with the boundless greed of humans, pointing out the modesty of natural requirements versus the extravagance of cultivated desires: “The bull is filled when he feeds over a few acres; and one forest is large enough for a herd of elephants. Man, however, draws sustenance both from the earth and from the sea.” He uses vivid imagery to criticize those who live only to satisfy their immediate physical desires, equating such existence to living death: “Those men, however, who creep into a hole and grow torpid are no better off in their homes than if they were in their tombs.”
"The bull is filled when he feeds over a few acres; and one forest is large enough for a herd of elephants. Man, however, draws sustenance both from the earth and from the sea."
Finally, Seneca calls for a life of active engagement and utility, highlighting that true living involves contributing to the well-being of others and making the most out of one’s existence: “He really lives who is made use of by many; he really lives who makes use of himself.”
"He really lives who is made use of by many; he really lives who makes use of himself."
Seneca provides a powerful critique of misguided prayers and desires that prioritize material gain and physical pleasures over spiritual and intellectual fulfillment. Through his philosophical discourse, he urges a reconsideration of what it means to live a good life, advocating for simplicity, self-reliance, and altruism as the true paths to contentment and moral integrity. This letter not only challenges societal norms but also encourages personal reflection on the true sources of joy and fulfillment.
***** Letters from a Stoic Key Takeaways is a collection of short key takeaways from the letters sent by Seneca to Lucilius. Read each letter’s key takeways here .
