On the Shortness of Life

Stoics in Their Own Words, Book 4

By: Seneca

Narrated by: Joseph Kent

Why do we complain of Nature? She has shown herself kindly; life, if you know how to use it, is long. But one man is possessed by an avarice that is insatiable, another by a toilsome devotion to tasks that are useless; one man is besotted with wine, another is paralyzed by sloth; one man is exhausted by an ambition that always hangs upon the decision of others, another, driven on by the greed of the trader, is led over all lands and all seas by the hope of gain; some are tormented by a passion for war and are always either bent upon inflicting danger upon others or concerned about their own; some there are who are worn out by voluntary servitude in a thankless attendance upon the great; many are kept busy either in the pursuit of other men's fortune or in complaining of their own; many, following no fixed aim, shifting and inconstant and dissatisfied, are plunged by their fickleness into plans that are ever new; some have no fixed principle by which to direct their course, but Fate takes them unawares while they loll and yawn - so surely does it happen that I cannot doubt the truth of that utterance which the greatest of poets delivered with all the seeming of an oracle: The part of life we really live is small. For all the rest of existence is not life, but merely time.

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Live a Full Life!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This audiobook is about living your life well and acknowledging that most people reach the end of life despairing how brief their time on Earth was. However, Seneca goes on to explain that it is less about the brevity of life than the fact that we waste so much of it. This is an important lesson, even for people today, who are blessed with longer lives due to modern medicine and technology.

Although written over 2000 years ago, the ideas shared in this audiobook are profound and timeless; therefore, everyone would benefit greatly by internalizing the concepts contained in this audiobook. Also, the narrator did a good job reading this audiobook, and his voice was pleasant.

Any additional comments?

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review.

a lesson about life

life is full of things and this book one of the best teachers for the understatement of this specific thing like life I loved this book very much extremely even it is very good and you learn a lot
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A classic worth listening to!

This classic was narrated well and consists of the clear thought and observation that made Seneca the subject of study of so many would be intellectuals.

I was given this book for free in exchange for this unbiased and honest review. Which this was, brief as it may be.

Was worthwhile and thoughtful...

Seneca puts life into perspective quite well. One should perhaps listen to this a few times to really appreciate his pondering on life itself....

👍🏻

Great narration. Interesting translation. Definitely enjoyed this one.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.