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Lucius Annaeus Seneca
On the Shortness of Life

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1 I | getting ready to live. Nor is it merely the common herd 2 I | unthinking crowd that bemoan what is, as men deem it, an universal 3 I | physicians exclaim that "life is short, art is long;"2 it 4 I | that "life is short, art is long;"2 it was this that 5 I(1) | It is clear from chapters 18 and 6 I(1) | wife, Pompeia Paulina, and is usually identified with 7 I | that a much shorter limit is fixed for man, though he 8 I | fixed for man, though he is born for so many and such 9 I | such great achievements. It is not that we have a short 10 I | we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has 11 I | things if the whole of it is well invested. But when 12 I | well invested. But when it is squandered in luxury and 13 I | and carelessness, when it is devoted to no good end, 14 I | that it was passing. So it isthe life we receive is not 15 I | it is—the life we receive is not short, but we make it 16 I | great and princely wealth is scattered in a moment when 17 I | wealth however limited, if it is entrusted to a good guardian, 18 I | increases by use, so our life is amply long for him who orders 19 II | you know how to use it, is long. But one man is possessed 20 II | it, is long. But one man is possessed by an avarice 21 II | possessed by an avarice that is insatiable, another by a 22 II | that are useless; one man is besotted with wine, another 23 II | besotted with wine, another is paralyzed by sloth; one 24 II | paralyzed by sloth; one man is exhausted by an ambition 25 II | the greed of the trader, is led over all lands and all 26 II | part of life we really live is small."5 For all the rest 27 II | all the rest of existence is not life, but merely time. 28 II | heave even after the storm is past, they are tossed about, 29 II | answers the call, that one is on trial, that one defends 30 II | claim to himself, everyone is wasted for the sake of another. 31 II | and B cultivates C; no one is his own master. And then 32 II | toward you even if his face is insolent, he does sometimes 33 II | give ear to yourself. There is no reason, therefore, to 34 III | stones and arms if there is even the slightest dispute 35 III | eventually possess it. No one is to be found who is willing 36 III | No one is to be found who is willing to distribute his 37 III | the one thing in which it is right to be miserly, they 38 III | your season!"7 What, then, is the reason of this? You 39 III | on some person or thing is perhaps your last. You have 40 III | any business? How late it is to begin to live just when 41 III(7) | season" (Job v. 26); but he is still unripe. ~~ 42 IV | since the joyful reality is still far distant, my desire 43 IV(8) | The idea is that greatness sinks beneath 44 IV(11) | The language is reminiscent of Augustus' 45 V | doubtful friends, as he is tossed to and fro along 46 V | possibly be above him who is above Fortune? ~ 47 VI | when once started on, he is said to have complained 48 VI | powerfully, indeed, that it is very well known that in 49 VI | nuisance in the forum. It is a question whether he died 50 VII | into lust bear a stain that is dishonourable. Search into 51 VII(14) | occupati, "the engrossed," is a technical term designating 52 VII | being courted, how much is taken up in giving or receiving 53 VII | successfully followed by a man who is busied with many things— 54 VII | rejects everything that is, as it were, crammed into 55 VII | crammed into it. There is nothing the busy man is 56 VII | is nothing the busy man is less busied with than living: 57 VII | with than living: there is nothing that is harder to 58 VII | living: there is nothing that is harder to learn. Of the 59 VII | that the life of such a man is very long because he has 60 VII | little of it. ~ And there is no reason for you to suppose 61 VII | Of how many that man who is shamming sickness for the 62 VII | of them?" That advocate is lionized throughout the 63 VII | morrow. For what new pleasure is there that any hour can 64 VII | addition as the man who is satisfied and filled takes 65 VII | yet can hold. And so there is no reason for you to think 66 VIII | itself; just as if what is asked were nothing, what 67 VIII | asked were nothing, what is given, nothing. Men trifle 68 VIII | are blind to it because it is an incorporeal thing, because 69 VIII | and for this reason it is counted a very cheap thing 70 VIII | order to live! So great is the inconsistency of their 71 VIII | years set before him as is possible in the case of 72 VIII | would they be! And yet it is easy to dispense an amount 73 VIII | dispense an amount that is assured, no matter how small 74 VIII | know not when. ~ Yet there is no reason for you to suppose 75 VIII | how precious a thing time is; for to those whom they 76 VIII | the result of their giving is that they themselves suffer 77 VIII | very thing they do not know is whether they are suffering 78 VIII | removal of something that is lost without being noticed 79 VIII | being noticed they find is bearable. Yet no one will 80 IX | future; yet postponement is the greatest waste of life; 81 IX | greatest hindrance to living is expectancy, which depends 82 IX | in hapless mortals' life~Is ever first to flee.19 ~" 83 IX | the utterance of the bard is most admirably worded to 84 IX | about this very day that is flying. Is there, then, 85 IX | very day that is flying. Is there, then, any doubt that 86 IX | for hapless mortals, that is, for men who are engrossed, 87 IX | engrossed, the fairest day is ever the first to flee? 88 X | pinpricks; that sophistry is not serviceable, for the 89 X | merely wept over. Life is divided into three periods— 90 X | which has been, that which is, that which will be. Of 91 X | Of these the present time is short, the future is doubtful, 92 X | time is short, the future is doubtful, the past is certain. 93 X | future is doubtful, the past is certain. For the last is 94 X | is certain. For the last is the one over which Fortune 95 X | Fortune has lost control, is the one which cannot be 96 X | if they should have, it is not pleasant to recall something 97 X | of his conscience, which is never deceived; he who has 98 X | own memory. And yet this is the part of our time that 99 X | the part of our time that is sacred and set apart, put 100 X | Fortune, the part which is disquieted by no want, by 101 X | nor be snatched away—it is an everlasting and unanxious 102 X | time to do. The mind that is untroubled and tranquil 103 X | into a vessel, if there is no bottom21 to receive and 104 X | makes no difference how much is given; if there is nothing 105 X | much is given; if there is nothing for it to settle 106 X | of the mind. Present time is very brief, so brief, indeed, 107 X | seems to be none; for it is always in motion, it ever 108 X | present time alone, and it is so brief that it cannot 109 X | be grasped, and even this is filched away from them, 110 XI | But for those whose life is passed remote from all business, 111 XI | not be ample? None of it is assigned to another, none 112 XI | assigned to another, none of it is scattered in this direction 113 XI | direction and that, none of it is committed to Fortune, none 114 XI | perishes from neglect, none is subtracted by wasteful giving, 115 XI | wasteful giving, none of it is unused; the whole of it, 116 XI | small the amount of it, it is abundantly sufficient, and 117 XII | the engrossed "? There is no reason for you to suppose 118 XII | busy in seeking gain that is disreputable and that will 119 XII | the leisure of some men is engrossed; in their villa 120 XII | Would you say that that man is at leisure25 who arranges 121 XII | before? while a solemn debate is held over each separate 122 XII | up if any of their mane is lopped off, if any of it 123 XII | disordered than his hair? Who is not more concerned to have 124 XII | does not know whether he is sitting, knows whether he 125 XII | sitting, knows whether he is alive, whether he sees, 126 XII | whether he sees, whether he is at leisure? I find it hard 127 XII | seems the part of a man who is very lowly and despicable 128 XII | despicable to know what he is doing. After this imagine 129 XII | neglect. To think that there is anyone who is so lost in 130 XII | that there is anyone who is so lost in luxury that he 131 XII | s word as to whether he is sitting down! This man, 132 XII | sitting down! This man, then, is not at leisure, you must 133 XII | him a different termhe is sick, nay, he is dead; that 134 XII | termhe is sick, nay, he is dead; that man is at leisure, 135 XII | nay, he is dead; that man is at leisure, who has also 136 XII | leisure. But this other who is half alive, who, in order 137 XIII | even among the Romans there is now a great number. It was 138 XIII | fight to the death? That is not enough! Are they torn 139 XIII | they torn to pieces? That is not enough! Let them be 140 XIII | of provincial, territory. Is it more profitable to know 141 XIII | Aventine, according to him, is outside the pomerium for 142 XIV | access to all ages, and if it is our wish, by greatness of 143 XIV | of human weakness, there is a great stretch of time 144 XIV | soul to the past, which is boundless, which is eternal, 145 XIV | which is boundless, which is eternal, which we share 146 XIV | out through a hall that is crowded with clients, and 147 XV | height from which no one is cast down. This is the only 148 XV | no one is cast down. This is the only way of prolonging 149 XV | quickly sink to ruin; there is nothing that the lapse of 150 XV | since envy works upon what is close at hand, and things 151 XV | has wide range, and he is not confined by the same 152 XV | shut others in. He alone is freed from the limitations 153 XV | embraces by recollection. Is time present? This he uses. 154 XV | time present? This he uses. Is it still to come? This he 155 XVI | future have a life that is very brief and troubled; 156 XVI | reason to think that this is any proof that they are 157 XVI | all the intervening time is irksome; exactly as they 158 XVI | gladiatorial exhibition\b is been announced, or when 159 XVI | the time which they enjoy is short and swift, and it 160 XVI | short and swift, and it is made much shorter by their 161 XVI | a harlot or in wine! It is this also that accounts 162 XVI | length of the night. For what is it but to inflame our vices 163 XVII | he had such fear. And why is it that even their joys 164 XVII | anxiety, and at no time is fortune less wisely trusted 165 XVII | wisely trusted than when it is best; to maintain prosperity 166 XVII | maintain prosperity there is need of other prosperity, 167 XVII | comes to us from chance is unstable, and the higher 168 XVII | rises, the more liable it is to fall. Moreover, what 169 XVII | to fall. Moreover, what is doomed to perish brings 170 XVII | of others at a salary? He is perplexed by caring for 171 XVII(37)| boot of the common soldier, is here synonymous with service 172 XVII | Carthaginians before he is ripe for so great an undertaking; 173 XVII | gods, at length, when he is old, his ambition will lake 174 XVIII | dear to the crowd. That is not to rest; you will find 175 XVIII | in an office in which it is difficult to avoid hatred; 176 XVIII | nevertheless believe me, it is better to have knowledge 177 XVIII | keen mind of yours, which is most competent to cope with 178 XVIII | subjects, from a service that is indeed honourable but hardly 179 XVIII | neither listens to reason, nor is appeased by justice, nor 180 XVIII | appeased by justice, nor is bent by any entreaty. Very 181 XVIII | treated while the patient is kept in ignorance; knowledge 182 XIX | things! Think you that it is just the same whether you 183 XIX | body; what the principle is that upholds all the heaviest 184 XIX | things! Now while the blood is hot, we must enter with 185 XIX | life there awaits much that is good to knowthe love and 186 XIX | of all who are engrossed is wretched, but most wretched 187 XIX | wretched, but most wretched is the condition of those who 188 XIX | know how short their life is, let them reflect how small 189 XIX | reflect how small a part of it is their own. ~ 190 XX | when you see one whose name is famous in the Forum, do 191 XX | shameless endeavours. Shameful is he whose breath leaves him 192 XX | of an ignorant circle, he is pleading for some litigant 193 XX | pleading for some litigant who is the veriest stranger; disgraceful 194 XX | veriest stranger; disgraceful is he who, exhausted more quickly 195 XX | his duties; disgraceful is he who dies in the act of 196 XX | work was restored to him. Is it really such pleasure 197 XX | senator after his sixtieth; it is more difficult for men to 198 XX | other wretched, their life is without profit, without


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