On the Shortness of Life (De Brevitate Vitae) is one of the most famous essays by the Roman Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Written around 49 CE, it addresses the universal concern of time and how we waste it. Seneca reminds his reader that life is long enough if we use it wisely, but most people squander it in distractions, ambition, or servitude to others’ expectations.
This short treatise is both practical and philosophical. It teaches that true freedom lies in cultivating one’s own mind, detaching from trivial pursuits, and living in accordance with reason. For Seneca, the study of philosophy is not abstract speculation but the highest use of human time—an activity that aligns us with nature and brings serenity.
Throughout history, this essay has inspired readers from early Christian thinkers to modern self-help writers. It speaks with remarkable clarity across centuries, challenging us to measure how we spend our days and to claim our life before it slips away.
Presented here in English translation, On the Shortness of Life is essential reading for anyone interested in Stoicism, classical philosophy, or the perennial art of living:
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