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"On the Shortness of Life" (Seneca the Younger c. 46 – Penguin Great Ideas series, 2004)
First, a note on the Great Ideas series. Starting in 2004, Penguin has released 120 books under this banner. Although the majority of the texts can be categorized as (primarily Western) philosophy, some of the publications cover history, psychology, and politics. Each of the volumes is around 100 pages. As a result, some of the classic texts have been shortened, while others have been combined with other (less famous) compositions from the authors. The series was an inexpensive way to get a physical copy of some of the greatest essays ever written. The downside is the publications were spartan, and there's typically no explanatory information about the writer, their broader beliefs, and their historical context.
"On the Shortness of Life" was the first volume in the Great Ideas series. The essay was written by Seneca the Younger, a Roman politician, playwright, and Stoic philosopher. More than 100 of his philosophical texts have survived. (The majority of those are relatively short letters, which primarily discuss how to live a productive, dignified life. Although most of the letters are addressed to a friend, they were likely intended for a broader audience). This publication contains the namesake essay (which is fairly short – the English version is only around 11,000 words), along with two other selections.
I first read "On the Shortness of Life" a decade ago. Seneca argues that life, in fact, is not short, but most people waste their time. He compares a man's life to a ship that leaves the harbour during a storm; it may have been tossed around, but it didn't travel very far. Similarly, he says that even though a man has grey hairs or wrinkles, he hasn't necessarily
lived for a long time - he may have merely existed for a long time. Seneca notes that although time is "the one thing in which it is right to be miserly", most people guard their money more carefully. He admonishes people for acting as if they have an unlimited amount of time, and for failing to recognize their mortality.
Seneca says that one can live a long, full life by not wasting time on frivolities, and living in the moment. I found the advice logical, though somewhat generic. (It's easy to understand that we shouldn't waste our time, but much tougher to put this into practice). Seneca's most interesting recommendation was to study philosophy, because doing so allows you to add the years of a philosopher's life to your own. He argues that the philosopher transcends the limits of mortality that most people face. Given that we're talking about Seneca's writings nearly two thousand years later, there's some truth to this idea. I would argue that this applies to all types of reading (not just philosophy).
The next essay is "Of Consolation to Helvia". After being exiled in approximately 41 AD, he wrote a long letter to his mother, reassuring her of his wellbeing. I found this the least interesting of the three works. Seneca tells his mother that although it's been appropriate for her to grieve, she must move on. Although his arguments are logical, they probably would have been useless in comforting his saddened mother. (It's possible that the true purpose of the essay was to espouse Stoic doctrines, which could explain the somewhat formal tone). He dedicates several paragraphs to talking about how humans have moved from one location to another throughout history, so his forced departure from Rome can't be inherently bad. (His argument is valid, but it was a long discussion about something that seems obvious). Seneca notes that although he may have lost his possessions, "very little is required to keep a man alive", and that he's really only lost "distractions". He ends the letter by reassuring his mother that he's "joyous and cheerful", and that he now has time to study philosophy and contemplate the universe. (This is consistent with the Stoic belief that events aren't inherently good or bad, and that we choose how to react to them). The letter's final, vivid paragraph was the most compelling section.
The final letter is "On the Tranquility of Mind". In the first section, Seneca writes from the perspective of his friend Annaeus Serenus, pleading for help with his malaise. Seneca's response covers many of the key themes of Stoic philosophy. This essay is less focused than the previous two, but the advice is more practical. He talks about the value of serving your community, being objective about your strengths, the dangers of accumulating excessive wealth or possessions, and the need to spend your time wisely. Seneca acknowledges that a person can't always remain focused, and the importance of making time for leisure. (He shares a very short but fascinating anecdote about Socrates playing with children). The most interesting part of the essay is Seneca's reflections on death. He wrote with admiration about the serene calmness of Julius Canus, a Stoic philosopher, before his execution. Seneca states that he'll never shed a tear for a man who dies, because everyone must face their final moments either cheerfully or sadly: "the former wipes away my tears, the latter by his tears makes himself unworthy that any should be shed for him". I don't think I've ever read a better reflection on dying well.
I dislike the formatting of this edition. Seneca generally wrote in long paragraphs, many spanning an entire page or more. The lack of spaces between paragraphs made the text harder to read.
Comparing this book to
Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations", I find Seneca to be more verbose, and there's a much stronger emphasis on formulating rigourous logical arguments. Seneca is a much more thorough, analytical thinker. On the other hand, these letters are more abstract, and provide less practical guide than Aurelius's masterpiece. Both texts, despite being two thousand years old, have ideas that are still relevant in the 21st century. Seneca makes a plausible case that life isn't actually short – if you spend your time wisely. (Since I first read the namesake essay a decade ago, I've generally spent my time well, but should strive to work a bit less, and waste less time on frivolities).
