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From Vol. 2, Issue 5, May 2020

The art of being imperfect

Stoicism in Plain English / Seneca on Happiness || EDITOR

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Key ideas 

  1. When you practice philosophy, people will criticize you because you are not perfect. 
  2. What they don’t know is some progress is better than no progress at all. 

Challenges to one’s way of life 

So, if any one of the dogs who yelp at philosophy says, as they usually do: 

And then questions like these. 

I will add to this list of accusations myself later. I will bring more accusations against myself than you can think of. But, for now, let me answer you this way. 

Some progress is better than none at all 

“I am not a wise man. I will not be one because of your spite. So, don’t expect me to be on par with the best of people, but just better than the worst. I am satisfied if every day I reduce my vices and correct my faults. I am not perfect and never will be. I use medicines to relieve the symptoms of what ails me rather than effect a cure. I am happy if it comes less frequently and is not so painful. Compared to your lame legs, I’m a racer.” 

I say this not to defend myself—I am full of vices of every kind—but on behalf of others who have made some progress in virtue. 

Think about this 

I am satisfied if every day I reduce my vices and correct my faults. I am not perfect and never will be. I use medicines to relieve the symptoms of what ails me rather than effect a cure. I am happy if it comes less frequently and is not so painful. Compared to your lame legs, I’m a racer. 


In the SEVENTEENTH chapter of his discourse On The Happy Life, Seneca tells us that to be happy we should stop pursuing pleasure, and instead pursue virtue. 

This is an excerpt from Stoic Happiness, a plain English version of Seneca’s On the Happy Life, published by The Stoic Gym. 

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