Seneca Letters #70 – On the Proper Time to Slip the Cable

Seneca’s Letters to Lucilius are a collection of 124 letters in which the Roman philosopher shares his thoughts and insights on how to live a good life. In letter 70, Seneca discusses the nature of true friendship, the importance of choosing one’s friends carefully, and how to recognize a true friend.

Seneca believed that true friendship is essential for a happy and fulfilling life. He writes, “What can be more delightful than to have someone to whom you can say everything with the same absolute confidence as you would to yourself?” Seneca believed that true friendship requires a level of trust and intimacy that allows two people to share their deepest thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or betrayal.

According to Seneca, a true friend is someone who shares our values, who is honest with us, and who supports us in times of need. He writes, “Let us not be content to judge ourselves good and just, but let us seek out someone to give us an honest opinion, and let us not be satisfied with a friend who will just say what we want to hear.” Seneca believed that a true friend is willing to tell us the truth, even when it is difficult or painful to hear.

Seneca also believed that we should choose our friends carefully, as our friendships can have a significant impact on our lives. He writes, “Choose someone whose way of life, and not just whose words, are agreeable to you.” Seneca believed that we should choose friends who share our values and who inspire us to be better people.

One of the most important quotes from letter 70 is, “Friendship produces between us a partnership in all our interests.” Seneca believed that true friendship involves a deep sense of mutual support and shared interests. He writes, “Friendship produces between us a partnership in all our interests. There is no such thing as good or bad fortune for the individual; we live in common. And no one can live happily who has regard to himself alone and transforms everything into a question of his own utility; you must live for your neighbor, if you would live for yourself.”

For Seneca, true friendship is not just about what we can get from others, but also about what we can give. He believed that true friendship involves a sense of shared responsibility and a willingness to help each other in times of need. He writes, “Let us give, so that we may receive; let us sow, so that we may reap; let us help others, so that we may be helped in turn.”

In conclusion, Seneca’s letter 70 provides valuable insights into the nature of true friendship and the importance of choosing our friends carefully. He believed that true friendship involves a deep sense of mutual trust, shared values, and a willingness to support each other in times of need. He also believed that we should choose our friends wisely and that true friendship involves a sense of shared responsibility and a willingness to help others. Seneca’s letter serves as a reminder that true friendship is a precious gift that requires effort and care to maintain, but that it is also one of the most valuable and rewarding aspects of human life.