On the Shortness of Life
“It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested.”
So wrote the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca, nearly 2000 years ago, in his short work, “On the Shortness of Life.” This fifteen page essay is definitely worth as many minutes of your day.
Before the advent of radio, television, the internet, social media, and any other number of time-wasting inventions, Seneca wrote to caution us against wasting the most precious gift given to each of us—time. We know from high school history that ancient Rome was not without its distractions, amusements, and temptations; however, at no time in history have mindless diversions ever been as prevalent as today. Everywhere we turn, it seems there is something vying for our attention, tempting us away from truly living and toward procrastination regarding the things that really matter. The antidote, according to Seneca, is to take advantage of our days, not working ourselves ragged in vain search of glory, productivity, or status, but pursuing those things that genuinely matter and will remain significant long after our mortal lives are through.
“You live as if you were destined to live forever, no thought of your frailty ever enters your head, of how much time has already gone by you take no heed. You squander time as if you drew from a full and abundant supply, though all the while that day which you bestow on some person or thing is perhaps your last. You have all the fears of mortals and all the desires of immortals.”
Carpe diem, we might say more succinctly.
Seneca's caution is not only (or even primarily) to the young, but to men of all ages. We must take stock of how we spend our days and use them wisely. For sooner than we expect, our blood will no longer flow hot and our lives on this earth shall end. God forbid we waste our years, which are more valuable than gold.