Letter IX · On Philosophy and Friendship
Seneca
Seneca's words reflect Stoic resilience amid life's inevitable upheavals. Writing in an era when Roman politics were as perilous as a snake pit, he emphasizes the freedom of the mind over the constraints of circumstance. This mental fortitude contrasts with the Epicurean aim to avoid pain altogether. Where Epicurus might see loss and exile as calamities to be avoided, Seneca sees them as mere shifts in the scenery of life, challenging the reader to find stability within.