Hello this is my first time commenting, I hope this is the right place! I have just finished On the Happy Life. I think it was an excellent introduction for me to one of the stoics and I was surprised to see how many parallels there were to the things we often discuss in classical-mason education. Pursuit of virtue especially. One of my favorite quotes was from part 9 "Do you ask what I seek from virtue? I answer, Herself: for she has nothing better; she is her own reward"
Yes! Many sections reminded me of Classical Mason ideals where Virtue is at the heart of things!
I was also reminded of C.S. Lewis often. In part 14, Seneca writes, “he who pursues pleasure postpones everything to it, disregards that first essential, liberty, and sacrifices it to his belly; nor does he buy pleasure for himself, but sells himself to pleasure.” I instantly recalled Lewis’ Abolition of Man and the appetites of “the belly”.
I also thought of AOM at that part. I love how all these ideas are so closely intertwined and span across the centuries. It's such a privilege to read these great thinkers!
Hello this is my first time commenting, I hope this is the right place! I have just finished On the Happy Life. I think it was an excellent introduction for me to one of the stoics and I was surprised to see how many parallels there were to the things we often discuss in classical-mason education. Pursuit of virtue especially. One of my favorite quotes was from part 9 "Do you ask what I seek from virtue? I answer, Herself: for she has nothing better; she is her own reward"
Yes! Many sections reminded me of Classical Mason ideals where Virtue is at the heart of things!
I was also reminded of C.S. Lewis often. In part 14, Seneca writes, “he who pursues pleasure postpones everything to it, disregards that first essential, liberty, and sacrifices it to his belly; nor does he buy pleasure for himself, but sells himself to pleasure.” I instantly recalled Lewis’ Abolition of Man and the appetites of “the belly”.
I also thought of AOM at that part. I love how all these ideas are so closely intertwined and span across the centuries. It's such a privilege to read these great thinkers!