Do you know what is the highest duty and the highest proof wisdom? It is when your words and actions are in harmony with one another. Very few people manage to achieve this and even fewer manage to do it consistently. Many people tend to bounce from one thing to the next, and their instability leads to their downfall.

"There's thunder even on the loftiest peaks," said Maecenas. Seneca quoted this line to Lucilius to make a point that even the highest stations like government positions come with their own share of troubles. For this reason, he urges Lucilius to retreat from public life and reclaim his time. He plays the part of Lucilius by asking "How can I take my leave?" Seneca responds by saying, "Anyway you please".

When everyone is in a festive mood, it could seem natural join in on the fun. Or, you might decide to distance yourself away from it entirely. Seneca believes that "one can keep holiday without extragavance." As a challenge to Lucilius, he tells him to set aside a certain number of days where he will test himself by living far below his means as a way to fortify himself against poverty. He tells him, "If you would not have a man flinch when the crisis comes, train him before it comes".

Most people would rather devote themselves towards attaining riches than attaining wisdom. To attain wisdom is to live according to Nature, and Nature demands very little from us. Even if you wish to acquire something to live on, you can study wisdom while you are acquiring it.

There are 3 possible ways that the world could be ordered. The first possibility is that everything that happens is fated to happen. Next, there's the possibility that a God or some kind of all-powerful deity exists that brings order to the universe. Finally, there's the possibility that everything could just be random and there's no rhyme or reason whatsoever. Is it possible for philosophy to defend us in one or all of these cases? Seneca seems to think so and believes that "no man can live a happy life, or even a supportable life, without the study of wisdom".

Seneca equates studying philosophy with "being well". Without philosophy, the mind is exposed to all types of negative influences and loses its center. While it's true a strong body cannot make up for a weak mind, it is still necessary to exercist the body to some degree.

We live in an uncertain world, but Seneca believes we can protect ourselves from most troubles by taking refuge in philosophy. While it is true that there are philosophers like Cato who fought valiantly against a supposed threat, there are a great many others who withdrew from public life for the purpose of improving the human race.

Seneca famously says to Lucilius that "we suffer more often in imagination than reality." In other words, most of what we fear is completely unfounded. We allow ourselves to get worked up over something that most likely won't happen. In any case, we should prepare ourselves not only for the best but expect the worst. From there, there's nothing that could catch us by surprise because we have already accepted both extremes.

Seneca is reminded of his advancing years when he visits his old country-place. He sees a tree that he planted with his own hands begin to wither and die, even while under constant care. Life is better enjoyed when we are nearing the end, but it would be wise for all of us to treat each day as if it were our last.

There are some things that wisdom can remove from us, like unruly passions and fears, and there are others that stay with us no matter how advanced we are in attaining. The blush is one of those things and it arises in both old and young people alike. Seneca tells Lucilius that "Whatever is assigned to us by the terms of our birth and the blend in our constitutions, will stick with us, no matter how hard or how long the soul may have tried to master itself. "