On the Shortness of Life
On the Shortness of Life
Lucius Seneca
Jim Collins
Jim Collins mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Chip Conley
Says something about the fact that it’s not so much the shortness of life, it’s how we waste it. - Chip Conley
Patrick Collison
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average."
Maria Popova
A poignant reminder of what we so deeply intuit yet so easily forget and so chronically fail to put into practice. - Maria Popova
Neil Strauss
I give [this book] away a lot. - Neil Strauss
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5
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On the Shortness of Life

On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It

Lucius Seneca
By
Lucius Seneca
4.2
2957
ratings on Goodreads

In "On the Shortness of Life," Lucius Seneca embarks on a profound exploration of time and our often misguided relationship with it, delivering a timeless manifesto on the essence of living wisely and fully. Seneca, with the precision and depth characteristic of Stoic philosophy, unravels the folly of human preoccupations that lead us to squander our most precious resource. Through a series of letters and musings, he confronts the reader with the stark reality that although life may seem short, it is we who render it so through our incessant pursuit of the inconsequential. His eloquent discourse implores us to reclaim our existence from the clutches of frivolity and to embrace the richness of a life spent in the pursuit of virtue and knowledge. This seminal work, more than just a philosophical treatise, serves as a guide for navigating the brevity of life with grace and purpose. Seneca's insights into the human condition, with themes of mindfulness, the value of time, and the importance of self-reflection, resonate as much today as they did in ancient Rome. "On the Shortness of Life" is not merely a book to be read; it's a call to action—a reminder to forsake the trivial in favor of the profound, to live not just in time, but with depth. As relevant now as ever, Seneca's reflections offer a blueprint for a life well-lived, challenging us to confront our mortality and, in doing so, to unlock the fullness of life.

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Released
1949
1 Jan
Length
106
Pages

5

recommendations

recommendation

Says something about the fact that it’s not so much the shortness of life, it’s how we waste it. - Chip Conley
Jim Collins mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
A poignant reminder of what we so deeply intuit yet so easily forget and so chronically fail to put into practice. - Maria Popova
I give [this book] away a lot. - Neil Strauss
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average."
You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire
— Lucius Seneca, On the Shortness of Life

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