Seneca's Morals by Seneca Free eBook

Seneca's Morals of a Happy Life, Benefits, Anger and Clemency, by Lucius Annaeus Seneca,

Table of Content:

Of Seneca’s Writings.
Seneca’s Life And Death.

Seneca Of Benefits.
Seneca Of A Happy Life.
Seneca Of Anger.
Seneca Of Clemency.

Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC - AD 65), fully Lucius Annaeus Seneca and also known simply as Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and - in one work - satirist of the Silver Age of Latin literature.

Seneca was born in Cordoba in Hispania, and raised in Rome, where he was trained in rhetoric and philosophy. He was a tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero. He was forced to take his own life for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero, in which he was likely to have been innocent. His father was Seneca the Elder, his elder brother was Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus, and his nephew was the poet Lucan. His stoic and calm suicide has become the subject of numerous paintings. As a writer Seneca is known for his philosophical works, and for his plays which are all tragedies. His philosophical writings include a dozen philosophical essays, and one hundred and twenty-four letters dealing with moral issues. As a tragedian, he is best known for his Medea and Thyestes.


Seneca was a prolific writer of philosophical works on Stoicism, mostly on ethics, with one work (Naturales Quaestiones) on the physical world. Stoicism was a popular philosophy in this period, and many upper-class Romans found in it a guiding ethical framework for political involvement. It was once popular to regard Seneca as being very eclectic in his Stoicism, but modern scholarship views him as a fairly orthodox Stoic, albeit a free-minded one. He knew the writings of many of the earlier Stoics: he often mentions Zeno, Cleanthes, and Chrysippus; and he frequently cites Posidonius, with whom Seneca shared an interest in natural phenomena. His works contain many references to other ancient philosophers, and it has often been noted that he frequently quotes Epicurus, especially in his Letters. However, Seneca's interest in Epicurus is mainly limited to using him as a source of ethical maxims. Likewise Seneca shows some interest in Platonist metaphysics, but never with any clear commitment. His surviving moral essays are based on Stoic doctrines, but are formulated in Latin and usually in a non-technical language.[63] Seneca has in mind an audience who aren't necessarily Stoics. His works discuss both ethical theory and practical advice, and Seneca stresses that both parts are distinct but interdependent. His Letters to Lucilius remain one of his most popular works: by offering ethical guidance, they showcase Seneca's search for ethical perfection.

Seneca generally employs a pointed rhetorical style in his prose. His writings focus on traditional themes of Stoic philosophy. The universe is governed for the best by a rational providence, and this has to be reconciled with adversity. Seneca regards philosophy as a balm for the wounds of life. The destructive passions, especially anger and grief, must be uprooted, although sometimes he offers advice for moderating them according to reason. He discusses the relative merits of the contemplative life and the active life, and he considers it important to confront one's own mortality and be able to face death. One must be willing to practice poverty and use wealth properly, and he writes about favours, clemency, the importance of friendship, and the need to benefit others. Seneca practiced stoicism so we can safely call him stoic. Free eBook