Note: This is the first post in a weekly series called ‘Seneca Sundays’. Seneca’s writing is as profound as it is practical, and his timeless wisdom should be sipped and savoured, rather than gulped down. So, each week I’m going to reflect on one of his ‘Moral Letters to Lucilius’, and summarise the most practical and useful principles to share with you.
This weekly series is an experiment. I may get through all 124 letters, or it may end after a few weeks. What I do know is I welcome yours thoughts, feedback, and suggestions along the way.
Finally, I must say, I’m not a scholar, nor am I an academic. I’m simply curious about how Seneca’s principles—written almost 2,000 years ago—can help us live a better life. I’ll make mistakes along the way, and I trust that’s just part of the journey. So keep me honest, dear reader.
Why start with Letter #2?
I’m not going to write about the letters in sequential order. I’m going to let my curiosity lead, because it’s more fun that way. However, I’m starting with Letter #2 because it kicked off this whole idea.
In this letter, Seneca implores his friend and Sicilian Governor, Lucilius, to “stick to a limited number of master thinkers” rather than flit from book to book. It was this idea that inspired me to digest one of Seneca’s letters each week, instead of racing through them all and missing out on all they have to offer.
So, here we go.
1. Reading many books is a distraction
Just like when a plant is moved too often, it cannot grow strong. Or when one travels too much, they’ll have many acquiantances, but few friends. We lose out on real depth and quality of learning when we jump from book to book.
“Everywhere means nowhere.”
Seneca also suggests we stick to “standard authors” because there are too many books for us to read. I smiled at this: the paradox of choice also existed in Ancient Rome—1,400 years before the invention of the Gutenberg press.
2. Stick to a limited number of master thinkers, and digest their work
There are two parts to this piece of advice.
Firstly, there are only a limited number of “master thinkers”, and even then, we only have time for a select few. So we must choose carefully. My personal approach is to stick to a) the basic ideas, b) the big ideas, c) in the main disciplines, and d) to ideas that are practical and helpful in daily life.
Secondly, once we’ve decided the “who”, we need to actively, slowly, and deliberately digest their work. As Mortimer J. Adler puts it, “using nothing other than the words, lift ourselves from knowing less to knowing more.” It takes time, effort, and persistence to deeply understand the words of a master.
3. Claim something for yourself
From the many things we read, “claim a part of yourself.”
Wrestle with the words, underline, make notes in the margin. Refine and whittle down the key points until there is something clear, simple, and memorable for you to claim for your own.
Seneca goes on to say, “Each day, acquire something that will fortify you against poverty.”
We shouldn’t focus on monetary or material wealth here, but rather ask ourselves: what can we learn today that will help us build a sound mind, a health body, and a loving home?
4. What is enough?
“It’s not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more, who is poor… What is the proper limit to wealth? It is, first, to have what is necessary, and second, to have what is enough.”
Here’s to knowing when enough is enough.