In letters from a stoic 44, Seneca emphasized that philosophy does not care about ancestry. “If there is any good in philosophy, it is this—that it never looks into pedigrees. All men, if traced back to their original source, spring from the gods.” Lucilius seems to be feeling unworthy of his status and Seneca reminds him that a noble mind is free to anyone. …
In letters from a stoic 43, Seneca talks about the relativity of fame. “Any point which rises above adjacent points is great, at the spot where it rises. For greatness is not absolute; comparison increases it or lessens it. “ Seneca pointed it out because Lucilius don’t seem to understand quite well the popularity that goes with holding a…
In letters from a stoic 42, Seneca talks about a friend of Lucilius who claimed that he is a good man. For the Stoics, to be good means to live a life of virtues. Seneca expressed his doubt because first, to be truly good takes time. Virtues are good habits that need to be built with time. Second, if his friend claims that he is…
In letters from a stoic 41, Seneca talks about the God that within us. “God is near you, he is with you, and he is within you.” He then went to talk about nature and said that if we pay attention to it and look at it with awe our “soul will be deeply moved by a certain intimation of the existence of God.” A deep affinity with…
In letters from a stoic 40, Seneca describes how a philosopher discourse should be. Lucilius met a philosopher named Serapio in his residence. Seneca said not to put so much value on the said philosopher’s discourses which seemed to be done at a fast pace and full of rhetorical words but yet out of order. Seneca argues that discourse should be composed (slow pace)…