Seneca Moral essays
Seneca: The happy man, therefore, is he who can make a…
The happy man, therefore, is he who can make a right judgment in all things: he is happy who in his present circumstances, whatever they may be, is satisfied and on friendly terms with the conditions of his life. That man is happy, whose reason recommends to him the whole posture of his affairs.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Seneca’s moral essays. The reading beside it is ours.
Happiness is not getting every circumstance arranged to your taste. That project never ends. It is having a mind capable of making a sound judgment about the circumstances you have. A person can have a difficult job, an uncertain future, and real responsibilities while still being at peace with the basic shape of their life. That peace is not passive resignation. It comes from knowing what is worth caring about and what is not yours to command. Seneca describes someone who is on friendly terms with their condition. Imagine what that would change: less fighting with traffic, aging, other people's opinions, and the fact that plans move. You can still improve what is in your power. Just stop requiring the world to cooperate before you permit yourself tranquility. Today, practice saying: this is what I have; now what is the best use of it?
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