On the Shortness of Life, Section 7

Seneca — The Senator

A man who guards his time carefully has enough of it. But those who give away large chunks of their lives to other people never have enough. Don't think these busy people aren't aware of what they're losing. You'll often hear those surrounded by great success cry out in the middle of their crowds of clients, their court cases, and their other prestigious burdens: "I can't live my own life!" Why can't he? Because everyone who calls on him for help pulls him away from himself. How many of your days have been consumed by that defendant you're representing? By that person running for office? By that old woman who's tired from outliving her heirs? By that man who fakes illness to stir up the greed of people hoping to inherit from him? By that powerful friend who uses you as decoration in his entourage, not as a real friend?

Seneca — The Senator Original

He, therefore, had time enough: whereas those who gave up a great part of their lives to the people of necessity had not enough. Yet you need not suppose that the latter were not sometimes conscious of their loss: indeed, you will hear most of those who are troubled with great prosperity every now and then cry out amid their hosts of clients, their pleadings in court, and their other honourable troubles, "I am not allowed to live my own life." Why is he not allowed? because all those who call upon you to defend them, take you away from yourself. How many of your days have been spent by that defendant? by that candidate for office? by that old woman who is weary with burying her heirs? by that man who pretends to be ill, in order to excite the greed of those who hope to inherit his property? by that powerful friend of yours, who uses you to swell his train, not to be his friend?