Seneca - Philosophy, Happiness and Success
Seneca (c.4 BC- 65 AD)
Roman philosopher (pictured right), politician and teacher of Emperor Nero.
Forced to commit suicide by his political enemies.
His tips on happiness and success
1. Learn from good and bad experiences
Learning is for a better life, not just for academic qualifications.
Accept your mistakes and problems and learn from them.
Problems:
- develop virtues like courage, patience and endurance.
2. Enjoy yourself but be self-disciplined
- enjoy the good things in life (food, drink etc).
- have the self-discipline to control your desires (see point 3).
- stay in control of your life.
- live for today without worrying about tomorrow.
3. Use your money wisely
Do something useful and worthwhile with your money, but don’t be
a slave to it
(so have self-discipline).
4. Challenge yourself
- dare to do great and new things in your life.
- push yourself to make the most of your ability.
5. Giving and receiving
Immediately forget what you give, but never forget what you receive.
Give as you would receive “cheerfully, quickly and without hesitation”.
It is just as important to acknowledge a good deed, as do it, but always ask for
something you need with confidence.
6. Know when to speak and shut up
Silent listening is equally important as speaking wisely (which needs knowledge, because “speech is
the mirror of the mind”).
7. Love and humility
a) be kind to other people
Never say you’re too busy to help them.
b) humbly respect people's views
(remembering your own ignorance).
c) trust the right people
Trusting everyone is just as wrong as trusting no one.
8. Be
brave
Seneca was a believer in Stoicism i.e. physical and moral courage are
essential for success.
“Life without the courage for death is
slavery”, he said.
9. Stay healthy
You can’t live without your body, so look after it.
Key quote on vision and objectives
It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are
difficult.
Key quotes on
death
The worst evil of all is to leave the ranks of the living before one dies.
Life without the courage for death is slavery.
Key quote on fear and
anxiety
Where fear is, happiness is not.
Key quote on
happiness
Expecting is the greatest impediment to living. In anticipation of tomorrow, it loses today.
Key quote on stress and
pain
We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right.
Key quote on
quality
It is quality rather than quantity that matters.
Key quote on
success
Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.
Key quote on positive
thinking
A man’s as miserable as he thinks he is.
Key quote on
money
It is not the man who has little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
Key quote on influencing
people
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.
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