Welcome back to my blog on Seneca. Today, we read a selection from his writings on happiness. It says, "We must therefore first define clearly what it is at which we aim: next we must consider by what path we may most speedily reach it, for on our journey itself, provided it be made in the right direction, we shall learn how much progress we have made each day, and how much nearer we are to the goal towards which our natural desires urge us. But as long as we wander at random, not following any guide except the shouts and discordant glamours of those who invite us to proceed in different directions, our short life will be wasted in useless roaming, even if we labour both day and night to get a good understanding. Let us not therefore decide whither we must tend, and by what path, without the advice of some experienced person who has explored the region which we are about to enter, because this journey is not subject to the same conditions as others; for ... here the most beaten and frequented tracks are those which lead us most astray."
Once again, lots of unpack here. First, we must figure out what we're looking for. Second, we must decide how we get there, and looking around, we see that most people take the wrong path. We'll explore that more tomorrow. See you then!
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