Letters from a Stoic | Letter 9 | On Philosophy and Friendship

Written in 65 AD, by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, better know as Seneca the Younger, "Letters from a Stoic" lays out, in beautiful and empathetic prose, a guide to living a life guided by Stoic principles. By committing to virtue and loving it deeply, we can live a joyous and tranquil life, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

In Letter 9, Seneca addresses the question of whether the wise person is self-sufficient and does not require friendships. He argues that while the wise man is indeed self-sufficient for a happy existence, he still desires friends for the purpose of practicing virtue and allowing his noble qualities to flourish. Seneca distinguishes between friendships sought for utility, which are shallow and fleeting, and true friendships formed out of genuine affection and care for one another. The wise man values friendships not for what he can gain from them, but for the intrinsic value of the bond itself.

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