Seneca addresses the central question of ancient philosophy: what constitutes human happiness? In twenty-five chapters he argues that happiness cannot be found in pleasure, wealth, or popular opinion, but only in virtue and the life of reason. Drawing on Stoic principles, he shows that the man who has mastered his passions and submitted his will to nature is truly happy — regardless of external fortune. One of the most direct and readable statements of Stoic ethics ever written.
25 chapters · Public domain
1
Of a Happy Life, and Wherein it Consists
~6 min · 3 pages
›2
Human Happiness Is Founded Upon Wisdom and Virtue; and First, of Wisdom
~8 min · 4 pages
›3
There Can Be No Happiness Without Virtue
~16 min · 8 pages
›4
Philosophy Is the Guide of Life
~15 min · 8 pages
›5
The Force of Precepts
~14 min · 7 pages
›6
No Felicity Like Peace of Conscience
~8 min · 4 pages
›7
A Good Man Can Never Be Miserable, nor a Wicked Man Happy
~8 min · 4 pages
›8
The Due Contemplation of Divine Providence Is the Certain Cure of All Misfortunes
~13 min · 6 pages
›9
Of Levity of Mind, and Other Impediments of a Happy Life
~13 min · 7 pages
›10
He That Sets Up His Rest Upon Contingencies Shall Never Be Quiet
~10 min · 5 pages
›11
A Sensual Life Is a Miserable Life
~13 min · 7 pages
›12
Avarice and Ambition Are Insatiable and Restless
~11 min · 5 pages
›13
Hope and Fear Are the Bane of Human Life
~7 min · 4 pages
›14
It Is According to the True or False Estimate of Things That We Are Happy or Miserable
~6 min · 4 pages
›15
The Blessings of Temperance and Moderation
~15 min · 7 pages
›16
Constancy of Mind Gives a Man Reputation, and Makes Him Happy in Despite of All Misfortune
~17 min · 8 pages
›17
Our Happiness Depends in a Great Measure Upon the Choice of Our Company
~7 min · 4 pages
›18
The Blessings of Friendship
~8 min · 4 pages
›19
He That Would Be Happy Must Take an Account of His Time
~13 min · 6 pages
›20
Happy Is the Man That May Choose His Own Business
~11 min · 6 pages
›21
The Contempt of Death Makes All the Miseries of Life Easy to Us
~16 min · 8 pages
›22
Consolations Against Death, from the Providence and the Necessity of it
~9 min · 5 pages
›23
Against Immoderate Sorrow for the Death of Friends
~10 min · 5 pages
›24
Consolation Against Banishment and Bodily Pain
~7 min · 4 pages
›25
Poverty to a Wise Man Is Rather a Blessing Than a Misfortune
~8 min · 4 pages
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