Letters from a Stoic

Books | Philosophy / Essays

4.5

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Seneca

'It is philosophy that has the duty of protecting us ... without it no one can lead a life free of fear or worry'For several years of his turbulent life, in which he was dogged by ill health, exile and danger, Seneca was the guiding hand of the Roman Empire. This selection of Seneca's letters shows him upholding the ideals of Stoicism - the wisdom of the self-possessed person immune to life's setbacks - while valuing friendship and courage, and criticizing the harsh treatment of slaves and the cruelties in the gladiatorial arena. The humanity and wit revealed in Seneca's interpretation of Stoicism is a moving and inspiring declaration of the dignity of the individual mind.Selected and translated with an Introduction by Robin Campbell

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Author

Seneca

Pages

256

Publisher

Penguin UK

Published Date

2004-08-26

ISBN

0141914521 9780141914527

Ratings

Google: 5

Community ReviewsSee all

"A fantastic book filled with letters written by Seneca, one of the most notable stoic philosophers. It’s incredible how timeless some of his teachings are. Many ideas explored when this book was written (65 AD) are still relevant to modern life. There are quite a few quotable lines regarding ethics and how one should approach their own life that I saved to reference later."

Narwhal

"It is hilarious to hear Seneca grumble about kids drinking wine in the bathhouse, how oysters and mushrooms are excess luxuries, and how liberal arts don't teach anything as useful as philosophy. I love stoic philosophy but am understanding how many things were the dame 2000 years ago and how many things were different. High child mortality rates, and an education system that emphasized rhetoric over critical thinking certainly skew some otherwise helpful learnings we can apply to our own daily struggles with instant gratification and overly hurried frettings."