• On the Shortness of Life

  • By: Lucius Seneca
  • Narrated by: Clint Arthur
  • Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (789 ratings)

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On the Shortness of Life  By  cover art

On the Shortness of Life

By: Lucius Seneca
Narrated by: Clint Arthur
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Publisher's summary

The majority of mortals, Paulinus, complain bitterly of the spitefulness of Nature, because we are born for a brief span of life, because even this space that has been granted to us rushes by so speedily and so swiftly that all save a very few find life at an end just when they are getting ready to live. Nor is it merely the common herd and the unthinking crowd that bemoan what is, as men deem it, an universal ill; the same feeling has called forth complaint also from men who were famous.

Public Domain (P)2015 Clint Arthur

Featured Article: 25+ of the Best Stoicism Quotes


Stoicism is a school of philosophy dating back to the third century BCE. Founded by Zeno of Citium, the philosophy soon grew to include some of the most influential thinkers of the Greek and Roman era. The Stoic philosophers teach that happiness and fulfillment can be achieved by refusing to be influenced by desire, societal pressures, or anything outside your control. Stoicism is about accepting moments as they arise, and the power of logical thinking. If you're curious about what it is, and how to incorporate it into your daily life, these quotes are the perfect place to start.

What listeners say about On the Shortness of Life

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent short read on the shortness of life!

we all don't have very much time in this body and life on this plane of existence. Life can be fleeting. Life can be very short. how does it occur to us that in the end of days, at the end of your life, you begin to realize how much time was wasted on frivolous things that had no meaning. this is an excellent book, a very short read. You can get it done in just a few hours. And you won't be wasting your time. the shortness of life such an awesome classic!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Dated, yet still true

Recommended for those who stress about time and don't mind Roman historical references. Definitely puts people in perspective who have ended up working for works sake.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really great book everyone should have in their audible library

Not only is the book a great story and invaluable to learn, Clint does a wonderful job narrating. His words are concise and emphatic. Recommended for all.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Short book with a great message.

Short book with a great message. I found it well worth my time to listen.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Essential Seneca, painful Clint

I would go so far as to say that On The Shortness of Life is essential reading (or in this case listening); however, the narrator was just painful to listen to. His pronunciations were flawless, but his voice was banal, flat, and dull. The entire time I was bored, checking to see how much longer would I have to endure listening to this guy. It reminded me of high school, when the teacher would coerce people to read aloud for the class... only this time it was the whole damn book.

Get On the Shortness of Life, but I'd strongly encourage you get a different narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Way Of Thinking

Narrated by Clint Arthur Clint as in East Word Arthur As In King
IS The Best Performance

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great reminder on how to live

Short book on the shortness of life and how we often waste our time with useless endeavors. Will listen again. Hopefully that’s not a waste of time!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

To negative and depressing.

The reader is too monotone. It was hard to follow with so many insights. I wanted it to be easier to follow with some follow up into what some of it really meant.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen!

Short, but soo moving. Love the narrator. Very good!! Started getting into stoicism recently. Wild how it is so relatable, even though it was written so long ago very cool.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So much value-So little time

This book requires multiple readings
So much value to be had. Thank you. Ironic that this review requires additional words in order to submit.

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