David Fideler

Then there’s another dimension to Seneca’s work: he has one of the best writing styles of all times, and encapsulates his thoughts in pithy, epigrammatic lines like: ‘Our lack of confidence does not result from difficulty; the difficulty comes from lack of confidence.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson loved to read Seneca too, and even imitated his style.

If people with unhealthy characters surround us, the first and most crucial step is to escape their presence. ‘A large part of sanity,’ Seneca explains, ‘consists of letting go of those who encourage insanity and getting far away from a companionship that is mutually harmful.’ The second step is to surround ourselves with people who have good characters, even if it’s a tiny group or a single person. That’s because virtuous people can influence us just as strongly as vicious people, but in reverse.

One of my favorite Stoic ideas is that everything we have, or believe that we possess, is just ‘on loan’ from the universe. Everything. And one day, all those things will need to be returned.

As we’ve seen, the stereotype of Stoics being cold and unfeeling just isn’t true. The Stoics, in fact, took love and affection to be the primary human emotion. ... Because of this, it’s no exaggeration to say that Stoic ethics are ultimately based on love.

Of course, it is required that we benefit others—many if possible, but if not, a few; and if not a few, then those nearest to us; and if not those nearest, then ourselves. For when we make ourselves useful to others, we engage in public service.