🏛️ Sundays with Seneca
Sundays with Seneca explores Lucius Annaeus Seneca's writings and Stoic philosophy. Each week, I share a selected reading from one of Seneca's letters in search of ancient lessons on the art of living.
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On the Simple Life (Pt. I)
In a letter known today as Some Arguments in Favor of the Simple Life, Seneca wrote,
“I was shipwrecked before I got aboard.” I shall not add how that happened, lest you may reckon this also as another of the Stoic paradoxes; and yet I shall, whenever you are willing to listen, nay, even though you be unwilling, prove to you that these words are by no means untrue, nor so surprising as one at first sight would think. Meantime, the journey showed me this: how much we possess that is unnecessary; and how easily we can make up our minds to do away with things whose loss, whenever it is necessary to part with them, we do not feel. […]
The vehicle in which I have taken my seat is a farmer’s cart. Only by walking do the mules show that they are alive. The driver is barefoot, and not because it is summer either. I can scarcely force myself to wish that others shall think this cart mine. My false embarrassment about the truth still holds out, you see; and whenever we meet a more sumptuous party, I blush in spite of myself—proof that this conduct which I approve and applaud has not yet gained a firm and steadfast dwelling place within me. He who blushes at riding in a rattle trap will boast when he rides in style.
So my progress is still insufficient. I have not yet the courage openly to acknowledge my thriftiness. Even yet, I am bothered by what other travelers think of me. But instead of this, I should really have uttered an opinion counter to that in which mankind believe, saying, “You are mad, you are misled, your admiration devotes itself to unnecessary things! You estimate no man at his real worth. When property is concerned, you reckon up in this way with most unnecessary calculation those to whom you shall lend either money or benefits; for by now you enter benefits also as payments in your ledger.
You say. ‘His estates are wide, but his debts are large.’ ‘He has a fine house, but he has built it on borrowed capital.’ ‘No man will display a more brilliant retinue on short notice, but he cannot meet his debts.’ ‘If he pays off his creditors, he will have nothing left.’” So you will feel bound to do in all other cases as well—to find out by elimination the amount of every man’s actual possessions. […]
But after you have mentioned all these facts, he is poor. And why? He is in debt. “To what extent?” you ask. For all that he has. Or, perchance, you think it matters whether one has borrowed from another man or from Fortune.
What good is there in mules caparisoned in uniform livery? Or in decorated chariots and
Steeds decked with purple and tapestry, With golden harnesses hanging from their necks,
Champing their yellow bits, all clothed in gold?
Neither master nor mule is improved by such trappings. […]
I see that there will be no end in dealing with such a theme unless I make an end myself. So I shall now become silent, at least with reference to unnecessary things like these; doubtless the man who first called them “hindrances” had a prophetic inkling that they would be the very sort of thing they now are. At present I should like to deliver to you the syllogisms, as yet very few, belonging to our school and bearing upon the question of virtue, which, in our opinion, is sufficient for the happy life. […]
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Thank you for reading/listening; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
J.W.
P.S. Feel free to comment, ask questions, or make suggestions!
Seneca - On the Simple Life (Pt. I)