On The Shortness of Life According to Seneca: Making the Most of Your Time

Often I found myself pondering the age-old question: is life too short? It is cliché, but often true, that as one nears the end of their transient journey on this earth, the lament about the fleeting nature of existence becomes even more profound. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon, filled with reflections on the transitory nature of life, famously wrote, "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Roman “Philosopher King” Marcus Aurelius frequently touched on the impermanence of life in his stoic work “Meditations” in Greek. A century before Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher Seneca, in his book composed in Latin, “On the Shortness of Life,” offered a nuanced perspective on this existential dilemma, asserting that life isn't short, but rather we make it so. Let’s begin.

The Misconception of a Short Life

Many, especially when facing the twilight of their existence, mourn the brevity of life. They often reflect with regret, realizing only then that they've not truly relished the essence of living. But Seneca challenges this sentiment. Life, according to him, is not short. Spanning several decades, it offers ample time for a person to lead a fulfilling existence.

Yet, the universal feeling remains: life is fleeting. So where does the disconnect lie? Seneca's argument boils down to one fundamental point: it's not about the duration of our lives but how we use the time we have. We have more than enough so long as we know how to spend our time wisely. He draws an analogy with wealth; having plenty does not guarantee prosperity. If squandered aimlessly, even vast riches will evaporate.

Time: The Ultimate Commodity

To understand the value of time, Seneca prompts us to consider a scenario: if someone was to usurp your property, you'd vehemently oppose and reclaim it. Why then, when it comes to the invaluable asset of time, are we so negligent? Why do we guard our material possessions more fiercely than our irreplaceable moments?

The crux of the matter is how we allocate our time. While some activities are essential, like eating and sleeping, the majority of our day often revolves around others. This is glaringly evident in the modern work culture. People spend their waking hours engrossed in tasks that serve others' interests, leaving little to no room for personal endeavors.

Time for Oneself vs. Time for Others

Now, some might argue that work is a trade-off, a means to an end. But Seneca urges deeper introspection. Spending time for oneself is synonymous with freedom. It's the liberty to pursue passions, explore interests, and do what brings genuine joy. Most activities in our daily grind don't serve this purpose. The primary reason? Many don't recognize the inevitability of life's end. The illusion of endless tomorrows keeps us trapped in a cycle of postponing true living.

Seneca's philosophy serves as a reminder that the sands of time wait for no one. Youth might be deluded by the vibrancy of health, believing it to be an everlasting phase. Yet, the reality remains that for many, the realization of not living for oneself dawns only when the shadows of age, disease, or tragedy loom large.

Nevertheless, let me be clear, this message is not an encouragement to forgo career ambitions or live a selfish life in which one only focuses on oneself. Since that rarely one is born with wealth that could last forever, that there is no assurance that one will never lose what you have now given the capriciousness of life, and that a healthy dose of self-worth coming from a high degree of self-reliance and self-actualization is quintessential for mental well-being, we need to develop careers that suit us, bringing most fulfillment/utility thus striking a balance between time for self and others. I could not describe this dichotomy better than the common phrase “Choose a job that you love and you will not have to work a single day.” Even Seneca himself, after barely escaping the unjustly accused death sentence by Caligula and going into exile in Corsica for eight years, agreed to come back to tutor a young Nero. Sans hindsight bias, given how overwhelmingly negative assessments of Nero’s reign by generations of historians, I believe that Seneca at the time genuinely hoped that his tutelage could yield a benevolent and stable emperor one day, as did Aurelius to Commodus. That hope must have given him much joy. In terms of work and career, time spent for others is inevitable so that we can spend time for ourselves.

Carpe diem

Seneca's message is crystal clear: don't count on an uncertain future. No one can guarantee what tomorrow holds. We might have plans for the distant future, but who's to say we'll even witness the next sunrise? It's essential, therefore, to live in the present moment. Every day should be treated as a gift, not to be squandered but to be lived fully. Steve Jobs, in his commencement speech at Stanford in 2005, spoke about facing death after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He emphasized the importance of the same message, saying, "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life."

The True Wealth: Memories

The core of Seneca's philosophy is that our life's real wealth isn't tangible assets but the memories we create. He divides time into the past, present, and future. While the present is momentary and the future unpredictable, the past is permanent. Our true wealth lies in the experiences we've had, the memories we've forged. This philosophy, however, doesn't advocate a hedonistic pursuit of pleasure. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of meaningful experiences. To expand on this, my personal take on definition of meaningful experience that lasts is often associated with joy comes with fulfillment of responsibilities to spouse, children, parents, friends, relatives, colleagues, teams you managed, and communities you belong.

The Philosopher's Life: An Epitome of Fulfillment

Seneca believed that philosophers, not necessarily an occupation but described as anyone who possesses the love of wisdom, with their introspective nature, lead the most fulfilling lives. They invest time in themselves, pondering profound questions and delving deep into ancient texts. By doing so, they not only enrich their minds but also, through reading the works of authors long before their time, absorb the experiences and memories of the great thinkers before them, unbound by the physical and temporal limitations of their own life on this earth.

Final Thoughts

Seneca's discourse “On the Shortness of Life” serves as a poignant reminder of the value of time. It's not the years in our life that count, but the life in our years. To truly live, one must focus on creating memories, cherishing the present, and making every moment count. Only then can one lead a life that's vibrant, colorful, filled with vitality, and genuinely fulfilling. Eventually being framed by Nero as a culprit in an imaginary Coup d'état and ordered to death, Seneca peacefully embraced fate. This equanimity comes from a meaningful life well lived - not measured by its length, but by the depth of its experiences, the memories forged, and the purposeful moments cherished and embraced in the present.

Marble bust of Seneca the younger

Chicago, 10/12/2023