Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Here was perfect calm right in the middle of chaos. Here was a soul that deserved to live forever — a man who used his own death as a way to discover truth. Even at life's final moment, he turned his last breath into an experiment. He didn't just keep learning until he died. He learned something from death itself. No one has ever lived the philosopher's life more completely. I won't rush past this great man who deserves our respect. I want to pass your memory down to future generations, you noble soul. You were the greatest among all the victims of Caligula.

On Peace of Mind, Section 14 81 of 100
Death & Mortality Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

Here was peace in the very midst of the storm: here was a soul worthy of eternal life, which used its own fate as a proof of truth, which when at the last step of life experimented upon his fleeting breath, and did not merely continue to learn until he died, but learned something even from death itself. No man has carried the life of a philosopher further. I will not hastily leave the subject of a great man, and one who deserves to be spoken of with respect: I will hand thee down to all posterity, thou most noble heart, chief among the many victims of Gaius.

On Peace of Mind, Section 14 81 of 100
Seneca — The Senator

He never stopped searching for truth, right up to the end. He even made his own death into a philosophical experiment. His philosophy teacher walked with him to the execution site. They were near the hill where people made daily sacrifices to Caesar when the teacher asked, "What are you thinking about now, Kanus? What's going through your mind?" Kanus replied, "I've decided to use that split second — the fastest moment of all — to watch whether my spirit will be aware of leaving my body." He even promised that if he discovered anything, he would somehow return to his friends and tell them what happens to souls after death.

On Peace of Mind, Section 14 80 of 100
Death & Mortality Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

Nor did he up to the very end cease his search after truth, and raised arguments upon the subject of his own death. His own teacher of philosophy accompanied him, and they were not far from the hill on which the daily sacrifice to Caesar our god was offered, when he said, "What are you thinking of now, Kanus? or what are your ideas?" "I have decided," answered Kanus, "at that most swiftly-passing moment of all to watch whether the spirit will be conscious of the act of leaving the body." He promised, too, that if he made any discoveries, he would come round to his friends and tell them what the condition of the souls of the departed might be.

On Peace of Mind, Section 14 80 of 100
‹ Previous Next ›

Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

About · Support