Really insightful and nuanced article! I love how you put it: Seneca was "a protagonist seeking a good life in a dark time." Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for this inspiring perspective. So many quotes and folk wisdom comes to mind about curving that bitterness we have when we compare the person we put on a pedestal with the human being they are... Somewhere sometime I decided that I need to balance my arrogance with humility and I often end up undervaluing my achievements and thinking that this I just said is a sign of my arrogance... (confusing ).
I very much admire Seneca's approach, preaching what he admires and strives for, and lately I have realized that his is a better strategy. I've als noticed that although I am very tolerant of people's errors and irrationality, I don't like people who don't strive towards virtue.
I grew up in a Catholic culture and so much of what was taught to me is making sense when learning more about stoicism... But am I wrong if now I tolerate easier and forgive faster when I see that battle for stoic virtue in the other? Is it selfish that now I tolerate my imperfections better, can feel better in my skin, knowing of my constant internal struggle?
And are there similarities between what Christ was preaching at his time and the stoic philosophy? Or am I trying to reconcile my upbringing (based on a religion) with what makes sense to me now (stoic practice)?
So thanks again for making me think and ask questions!
Really insightful and nuanced article! I love how you put it: Seneca was "a protagonist seeking a good life in a dark time." Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for this inspiring perspective. So many quotes and folk wisdom comes to mind about curving that bitterness we have when we compare the person we put on a pedestal with the human being they are... Somewhere sometime I decided that I need to balance my arrogance with humility and I often end up undervaluing my achievements and thinking that this I just said is a sign of my arrogance... (confusing ).
I very much admire Seneca's approach, preaching what he admires and strives for, and lately I have realized that his is a better strategy. I've als noticed that although I am very tolerant of people's errors and irrationality, I don't like people who don't strive towards virtue.
I grew up in a Catholic culture and so much of what was taught to me is making sense when learning more about stoicism... But am I wrong if now I tolerate easier and forgive faster when I see that battle for stoic virtue in the other? Is it selfish that now I tolerate my imperfections better, can feel better in my skin, knowing of my constant internal struggle?
And are there similarities between what Christ was preaching at his time and the stoic philosophy? Or am I trying to reconcile my upbringing (based on a religion) with what makes sense to me now (stoic practice)?
So thanks again for making me think and ask questions!