Notes from Seneca’s “On Benefits”

Seneca’s works have been poured over by many, and his popularity only grows in modern times, the information age.

One of his least mentioned works, because it doesn’t provide relief for the wary, or focus during hardship, but is nonetheless an important Stoic text on how to live virtuously, is his book “On Benefits”.

This book may be one of the brightest examples of the Stoic notion of Justice, with passages like this one:


How does this line fit with your impression of the Stoics? Does it seem incongruent with your picture of them? When I read it, I realized what caliber of people these were, content as they were to focus on “what was in their power”, but driven, as if by a burning fire of passion, to be of service to their fellow humans.

How about this one :


This passage reminds me a lot of Musonius Rufus, who said

If I’m not mistaken, the Stoics were driven by these ideas, because this is what was meant by “Justice”.

Here’s another:


This, coming from the guy who spent so much energy trying to lead the Emperor Nero down a better path.

One of the remarkable things about this book, is that it paints a warm, caring image of a people often mischaracterized for being stoney faced, composed, and often indifferent. They were indifferent, to those things not pertaining to virtue.

But virtue was the only good, and sometimes looked a bit like Santa Claus:


…although perhaps less stingy than Santa.

So, the practice of logic, the understanding of Stoic metaphysics, brought forth a unique fruit, which looked an awful lot like benevolence.

Next time you are trying to whip your Stoicism into gear, consider divining the needs and wishes of those closest to you, and watch what benefits you bring those spheres of affinity.

Leave a Reply