The Stoic Magazine Library

Let another say, “Perhaps the worst will not happen.” You yourself must say, “Well, what if it does happen? Let us see who wins. Perhaps it happens for my best interests; it may be that such a death will shed credit upon my life.”

Some only begin to live when it is time for them to quit living. And if this seems surprising to you, let me tell you something that will surprise you even more: Some people quit living long before they begin.

More things are likely to frighten us, than to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.

You work hard. You put everything else aside and devote each day to becoming a better person. I admire it and take delight in it. I don’t just urge you – but plead with you – to continue with it.

In this letter addressed to his friend Lucilius, Seneca describes how our imaginary fears hold us back. Many of our fears are imaginary and we lack the courage to face them. We exaggerate, or imagine, or anticipate sorrow. We do not investigate the things that frighten us. We don’t examine them. We tremble and retreat. However, we can face them, examine them, and get rid of them.

In this letter addressed to his friend Lucilius, Seneca describes why a self-sufficient person still needs friends. He says that the wise, even though they are self-sufficient, want friends, if only to practice the noble qualitt of friendship.