Seneca Letters #93 – On the Quality, as Contrasted with the Length, of Life

Seneca’s 93rd letter to Lucilius discusses the quality of life, rather than its duration. In it, he argues that it is not the length of one’s life that matters, but how one lives that life. He asserts that a shorter life lived virtuously is better than a longer life spent in vice and idleness. This letter offers valuable insights into Stoic philosophy and its emphasis on living a meaningful life.

Seneca opens the letter by acknowledging that many people are preoccupied with the length of their lives, hoping to extend them as much as possible. He points out, however, that the length of one’s life is not in their control, and that it is better to focus on the quality of life that one lives. Seneca writes, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested.”

Seneca argues that it is better to live a life of virtue, filled with meaningful experiences and accomplishments, than to merely exist for an extended period. He emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and making the most of the time we have. Seneca writes, “It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested.”

Seneca also notes that many people waste their time pursuing trivial or empty pleasures, which ultimately do not bring them happiness or fulfillment. He writes, “They are not busy in behalf of their souls; they live as if they were going to live forever, and they forget the human limit. What we do not do now will be beyond our power to do in the future.”

In conclusion, Seneca’s 93rd letter offers a powerful reminder that the length of our lives is not as important as the quality of life that we live. We cannot control how long we will live, but we can control how we live our lives. Instead of wasting our time on meaningless pursuits, we should focus on living virtuously and making the most of the time we have. By living in the present moment and investing our time in meaningful activities, we can lead fulfilling lives, regardless of how long they may be.

The most important quote from this letter is, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested.” This quote serves as a reminder that we should not be preoccupied with the length of our lives, but rather with how we live them. We should focus on investing our time in meaningful pursuits, and not waste it on trivial or empty pleasures. By doing so, we can lead fulfilling lives, regardless of how long they may be.