Dying Every Day: What Seneca Can Teach Us About Truly Living
Introduction: Why We Need to Talk About Death
Death is something most people prefer to avoid. It feels uncomfortable and even frightening. But Roman philosopher and statesman Lucius Annaeus Seneca believed this avoidance comes at a cost. In How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life, edited by James S. Romm, Seneca encourages us to face death—not to dwell on it, but to better understand how it shapes a meaningful life.
Seeing Death as Part of Life
Seneca didn’t see death as an enemy. He saw it as a natural and continuous part of existence. From the moment we are born, he wrote, we are already moving toward death. “We are dying every day,” he said. This is not meant to sound grim. It is a reminder that time is always passing, and life is finite. Accepting this can help us value our time more deeply.
Preparing to Let Go
Instead of fearing death, Seneca believed we should prepare for it. That does not mean living in fear or gloom. It means being honest with ourselves and reflecting on the fact that life will one day end. “He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a man who is alive,” he wrote. This kind of reflection brings clarity. It helps us focus on what truly matters.
Facing Death, Gaining Freedom
For Seneca, learning how to face death is a path to freedom. Once we stop fearing death, we become less vulnerable to fear in general. “A man who has learned to die has unlearned how to be a slave,” he wrote. This perspective is especially powerful when dealing with injustice or oppression. In some cases, Seneca believed that choosing death could be a final act of control and dignity.
He treated this idea with care. Suicide, in his view, was only justifiable when life had lost all meaning due to unbearable suffering. Seneca’s own death, ordered by Emperor Nero, reflected the values he taught. He accepted it calmly, practicing what he had long preached.
Letting Go of the Fear
Seneca argued that fear of death undermines the way we live. It creates anxiety and keeps us from being present. He believed death is not evil—it is simply part of nature. “Death is not an evil. What is it then? The one law of nature that is free of all discrimination.” Death comes for everyone. Embracing this can bring peace.
Time Is All We Have
Seneca urged us not to waste time. In On the Shortness of Life, he wrote, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.” He considered time our most valuable asset. Once it passes, we can’t reclaim it. That is why we must use it with care and purpose.
Grieving Without Losing Ourselves
Seneca acknowledged the pain of loss. He understood grief is a part of life. But he believed it should not consume us. “Do you bury friendship along with a friend?” he asked. The people we’ve lost live on in our memories. Honoring those memories can help us move forward.
He also reminded us that life is unpredictable. Fortune can shift at any time. “We have entered the kingdom of Fortune, whose rule is harsh and unconquerable,” he wrote. Accepting life’s uncertainty builds strength and resilience.
Why Seneca Still Matters
Seneca’s insights remain relevant. In today’s world, death is often hidden—spoken about quietly, if at all. But he believed we should bring it into the open. Talking about death helps us think more clearly about life. It helps us focus on values, relationships, and purpose.
He believed that by accepting death, we stop wasting time. We become more sincere, more thankful, and more courageous. “It takes a whole life to learn how to live—and, perhaps you’ll find this more surprising—a whole life to learn how to die.”
Conclusion: A Life Worth Living
Seneca’s message is ultimately about living. By facing the reality of death, we learn to appreciate each moment. We stop waiting for the future and start paying attention to now. We live more fully, not just longer. That, he believed, is the heart of a life worth living.