There’s this quote from the Stoic philosopher Seneca in his essay On the Happy Life that I often think about when Fortune is good to me. The quote is “A happy life must also set due value upon all the things which adorn our lives, without over-estimating any one of them, and must be able to enjoy the bounty of Fortune without becoming her slave”.
These words came from a man who knew fortune quite well, for he was one of the wealthiest, most powerful, and most well known men in Rome at the time of writing them. Seneca knew about Fortune and her bounties, but can man really enjoy them without becoming a slave to them?
Seneca seems to be the only prominent Stoic who was filled with ambition and did not try to temper it. Whereas the other Stoics lived modestly—even Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of Rome—Seneca aimed at increasing his status and fame.
Like the Buddhists, Stoics believe desire is the cause for much of man’s suffering and that one should focus on what is in ones control (their attitude) and let go of what is not (Fortune). So is it truly possible to call yourself a Stoic while at the same time desiring things from outside yourself?
Seneca believed you could. If you can be satisfied with what you have, or if you can be satisfied with nothing, why should you not be satisfied with riches? If you don’t fear losing that which you have, what is the trouble in enjoying it while you have it? Or as Marcus Aurelius said “One can live well even in a palace”.
That said, I think it’s important to practice poverty in order to truly enjoy Fortune when she comes your way and to not fear her inevitable departure. I wish I could say this was my idea but it’s not. Like the quote in the first paragraph, this idea belongs to Seneca.
“Set aside a certain number of days, during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, with course and rough dress, saying to yourself the while: ‘Is this the condition that I feared?” -Seneca
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