Advice from the Ancients: What Seneca taught us about the shortness of life

What Seneca taught us about the shortness of life

Last month, I kicked off a new ‘mini series’ of video blogs called ‘Advice from the Ancients’, telling you about some of my favourite authors from the distant past who have influenced my work.

I started off with Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, the man behind one of my favourite quotes, “Old age is the crown of life: The final act in the play of life”. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

This month, I want to introduce you to my next ancient author, Seneca, who wrote ‘On the shortness of Life’ (De Brevitate Vitae).

Seneca, a stoic philosopher, statesman and dramatist, was born in 4BC and died in 65AD. He, not unlike us today, lived in turbulent times, serving under troubled emperors and not knowing if he would be in favour (or on the execution list) from one day to the next.

Do please enjoy this video that I have recorded for you, in which I discuss his book, which hasn’t really aged at all, in spite of it being two thousand years old. 

I have learnt a lot from Seneca and applied it to both my own life, and my ‘Retirement Rebel’ teachings. It really is an essential read!