On the Shortness of Life

2004

Special Collections B1 GS48 no.01. (Permissions kindly granted by Penguin Ltd.)

London: Penguin

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 5 BC-65 AD) was a Spanish-born Roman philosopher, a statesman and a playwright. The literature Seneca left behind includes twelve philosophical essays and 124 letters in which he expounds his Stoic beliefs. (According to Wikipedia ‘Stoicism teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions’; basically a ‘stiff upper lip’ outlook on life.) Christianity and Stoicism share some common philosophical ground and some of Seneca’s thoughts still resonate today. De Vita Beata – ‘Of a Happy Life’ and De Brevitate Vitae – ‘On the Shortness of Life’ – are two of his works on how to achieve happiness and how to make the most of life. Seneca was forced to commit suicide for his alleged role in a conspiracy to kill the Emperor Nero. The plate above depicts Seneca in a warm bath in his last stages of his death.