Letters of Note

Seneca the Younger (4 B. C. -A. D. 65) gained power and wealth as Nero's minister, but his Stoic beliefs conflicted with these possessions of his. Seneca is the outstanding figure of his time, though he didn't promote an objective view of Stoicism by incorporating its coldness in his work. Marcus Aurelius supported this philosophy later on, which provided Rome with a passable bridge to Christianity; Seneca's contribution to Stoicism was to spiritualize it and humanize its rules as seen from their standpoint. These letters are taken from the Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, written by Seneca in the second century A. D. , illustrating the upright ideals admired by the Stoics and extolling the good way of life as seen from their standpoint; also revealing how far in advance of his time were many of Seneca's ideas-his disgust at the shows in the arena or his criticism of the harsh treatment of slaves. Philosophical in tone, written in a pointed style concealing his real feelings, these essays were clearly meant for posterity by Seneca.