Moral Letter 8: On The Philosopher's Seclusion

Closing the last letter "On Crowds," the good Senator Seneca includes three quotes that provide the perfect segue into the topic of this letter.

First, in contrast to "Mob Rules," consider "Democritus [who] says: 'One man means as much to me as a multitude, and a multitude only as much as one man.'"

Second, Seneca refers to ol' whats-his-name, "someone or other" who was asked if he cared if his study reached only a few. "I am content with few, content with one, content with none at all." Good ol' Stoic indifference!

The final quote "by Epicurus, written to one of the partners of his studies: 'I write this not for the many, but for you; each of us is enough of an audience for the other.'" 

And so he signs off: "Lay these words to heart, Lucilius, that you may scorn the pleasure which comes from the applause of the majority. Many men praise you; but have you any reason for being pleased with yourself, if you are a person whom the many can understand? Your good qualities should face inwards. Farewell."

Apparently Lucilius wrote back and by his tone, I read Seneca to think Lucilius' suggestion is ill-informed. Seneca echoes back to Lucilius his own letter now: "'Do you bid me,' you say, 'shun the throng, and withdraw from men, and be content with my own conscience? Where are the counsels of your school, which order a man to die in the midst of active work?'"  One can almost hear Seneca laughing at his foolish friend. No, the opposite is true: get out and contribute something to the world--just don't get swept away.

The thrust of this next letter can be summed up this way: there is a time to shut oneself up, a time to sleep ("I yield to it when I must, and when my eyes are wearied with waking and ready to fall shut, I keep them at their task"), a time to withdraw from others--but the work done "behind the scenes" is not for myself. It is for those who come after me. "I am working for generations." 

Don't lose site of this fact: you need to feed your mind but you also need to train your body along with your mind. You are more than your body, so whip it into shape--your mind must still be useful after your body fails.

The golden nugget: Seneca quotes Epicurus, "If you would enjoy real freedom, you must be the slave of Philosophy." And he comments, "The man who submits and surrenders himself to her is not kept waiting; he is emancipated on the spot. For the very service of Philosophy is freedom."

Now get out there and do everything you are free to do as the lover of wisdom!