Get to work! Seneca, Epistulae 1.1.2
Seneca continues to
develop his theme of doing important work constantly. Each moment of
life is valuable. Don't wait to do something great in the future.
Start today! Put your hands to work. You can listen to me read his
exhortation <here>.
Quem mihi dabis qui aliquod pretium tempori ponat, qui diem aestimet, qui intellegat se cotidie mori? In hoc enim fallimur, quod mortem prospicimus: magna pars eius iam praeterit; quidquid aetatis retro est mors tenet. Fac ergo, mi Lucili, quod facere te scribis, omnes horas complectere; sic fiet ut minus ex crastino pendeas, si hodierno manum inieceris.
Quem mihi dabis qui aliquod pretium tempori ponat, qui diem aestimet, qui intellegat se cotidie mori? In hoc enim fallimur, quod mortem prospicimus: magna pars eius iam praeterit; quidquid aetatis retro est mors tenet. Fac ergo, mi Lucili, quod facere te scribis, omnes horas complectere; sic fiet ut minus ex crastino pendeas, si hodierno manum inieceris.
Can you show me a
man who gives value to his time, who takes just measure of a day,
understanding that he is constantly dying? It is a human mistake to
look for death in the future. The great part of it has already
passed. Death already holds whatever life lies behind us. Do then as
I write, Lucilius, and embrace every hour. Thus it shall come to pass
that you depend less on the morrow, as you put your hands to work
today.