Plain
Seneca — The Senator

So what's the problem? People live as if they'll never die. You forget that you're human and fragile. You don't notice how much time has already slipped away. You spend time carelessly, as if you have endless amounts of it. But that day you're wasting on someone or something might be your last. You fear everything like the mortal you are, yet you want everything as if you'll live forever.

On the Shortness of Life, Section 3 12 of 87
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

What, then, is the reason of this? It is that people live as though they would live for ever: you never remember your human frailty; you never notice how much of your time has already gone by: you spend it as though you had an abundant and overflowing store of it, though all the while that day which you devote to some man or to some thing is perhaps your last. You fear everything, like mortals as you are, and yet you desire everything as if you were immortals.

On the Shortness of Life, Section 3 12 of 87
Seneca — The Senator

You will see that you haven't really lived as many years as you can count. Look back and remember: How often did you stick to your plans? How many days went exactly as you wanted when you had control over them? How often did you stay calm and confident? How much real work have you actually accomplished in all this time? How many people have stolen pieces of your life without you even noticing? How much have you lost? How much time did you waste on pointless sadness, empty pleasures, desperate wants, or small talk? How little of your real self is left? When you add it all up, you'll realize you're dying before you've truly lived.

On the Shortness of Life, Section 3 11 of 87
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

you will see that you have not lived as many years as you count. Look back in your memory and see how often you have been consistent in your projects, how many days passed as you intended them to do when you were at your own disposal, how often you did not change colour and your spirit did not quail, how much work you have done in so long a time, how many people have without your knowledge stolen parts of your life from you, how much you have lost, how large a part has been taken up by useless grief, foolish gladness, greedy desire, or polite conversation; how little of yourself is left to you: you will then perceive that you will die prematurely."

On the Shortness of Life, Section 3 11 of 87
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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