In Letter 71, titled “On the Supreme Good,” Seneca discusses the nature of the Supreme Good and the importance of aligning one’s life with this ultimate goal. He begins by acknowledging the difficulties of providing timely advice across long distances but emphasizes the necessity of grounding decisions in the overarching purpose of life.
Seneca explains the importance of having a clear aim in life: “The artist may have his colours all prepared, but he cannot produce a likeness unless he has already made up his mind what he wishes to paint. The reason we make mistakes is because we all consider the parts of life, but never life as a whole.”
The reason we make mistakes is because we all consider the parts of life, but never life as a whole.
He uses the analogy of an archer to illustrate the need for a clear target: “Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” Seneca emphasizes that the Supreme Good is closely related to virtue: “The Supreme Good is that which is honourable. Besides…that which is honourable is the only good.”
"Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind."
He asserts that recognizing the honourable as the only good transforms how one perceives hardships.
"The Supreme Good is that which is honourable. Besides...that which is honourable is the only good."
Seneca criticizes those who see the Stoic ideals as unattainable because they focus only on the body: “Many think that we Stoics are holding out expectations greater than our human lot admits of; and they have a right to think so. For they have regard to the body only.”
Seneca praises Socrates for his practical approach to philosophy: “Socrates…said: ‘Follow these rules…in order that you may be happy; and let some men think you even a fool. Allow any man who so desires to insult you and work you wrong; but if only virtue dwells with you, you will suffer nothing.'”
"Allow any man who so desires to insult you and work you wrong; but if only virtue dwells with you, you will suffer nothing."
He underscores the equality of all goods that arise from virtue: “No man can accomplish this unless he has come to regard all goods as equal, for the reason that no good exists without that which is honourable, and that which is honourable is in every case equal.” Seneca provides examples of virtue in action, such as Cato’s equanimity in defeat: “The day whereon he failed of election, he spent in play; the night wherein he intended to die, he spent in reading. He regarded in the same light both the loss of his praetorship and the loss of his life; he had convinced himself that he ought to endure anything which might happen.”
He concludes by stressing the importance of aligning oneself with the natural order and accepting the cyclical nature of existence: “All things move in accord with their appointed times; they are destined to be born, to grow, and to be destroyed. The stars which you see moving above us…will be consumed and will cease to exist. There is nothing that does not have its old age; the intervals are merely unequal.”
"All things move in accord with their appointed times; they are destined to be born, to grow, and to be destroyed."
"The stars which you see moving above us...will be consumed and will cease to exist. There is nothing that does not have its old age"
Seneca’s letter serves as a profound reminder that the Supreme Good lies in virtue, which brings stability and peace regardless of external circumstances. By focusing on the honourable, one can navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and resilience.
***** 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 .
