In letters from Stoic 25, Seneca is talking to Lucilius about some mistakes their two friends committed, one in his forties and the other one relatively younger. He pointed out that it’s a lot harder to change older people because of the hardcoded habits they acquired for a very long time. However, Seneca said there is still a chance for older people to change as long as they show remorse…
In letters from a stoic 24, Seneca responds to a letter by Lucilius about an impending lawsuit against him. He asked him not to panic the case has not been decided after all. “It is indeed foolish to be unhappy now because you may be unhappy at some future time.” Then, he told him an unusual way of dealing with anxiety which is to assume that whatever he fears is…
In letters from stoic 23, Seneca talks about true joy. First, true joy is constant - meaning it should be accessed under all circumstances. It letters 5, the wise old man discourage Lucilius from clinging to any kind of hope. Hope is not true joy, Seneca said. While it may lift our spirit, it’s only momentarily and will only wind us down in the long run for the eventual…
Virtues and vices are within ourselves and our control. The virtues are the only good for the Stoics while vices as the only bad. Everything outside our control is neither good nor bad. These can include death, health, sickness, weather, reputation, and wealth. The Stoics classified indifference as preferred and unfavored. What the modern age defines as good such as wealth, power and fame are what the Stoics called preferred…
In letters from a stoic 22, Lucilius seems to be holding on his office as a procurator. In letter 19 Seneca has advised him to retire from office and no longer chase other pursuits. In this letter the wise old man gave Lucilius a blueprint on how to completely withdraw himself away from the highly colored occupation. Lucilius and Seneca are both high profiled men in Ancient Rome. To be sure,…