Stoic Quote: Life Is Long, If You Know How to Use It – Seneca’s Stoic Reminder

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.
In this Stoic Quotes episode, Benny reflects on the words of Seneca from his essay On the Shortness of Life. Seneca challenges the common complaint that life is too brief, reminding us instead that:

“Life is long, if only you know how to use it.”

Rather than blaming nature for giving us too little time, Seneca argues that the problem lies in how we waste it—chasing externals, worrying about the future, or clinging to the past. Benny unpacks how this insight shifts our perspective: life is not about how many years we get, but how we live each present moment with awareness and virtue.

Drawing connections with Marcus Aurelius’ reflections on time and Epictetus’ call to focus only on what is in our control, this episode explores how attention and presence transform the quality of our days. By treating each moment as if it could be our last, we discover that we already have enough time, if we live it well.

You’ll hear how slowing down gives life a deeper richness, why attention is a form of love, and how letting go of legacy and haste brings us closer to peace. Seneca’s reminder still speaks to us today: a fulfilled life is not measured by its length, but by the way we choose to use it.

Perfect for anyone reflecting on time, meaning, and how to live more intentionally with Stoic wisdom.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on how to use our time best:
🔗 https://viastoica.com/10-seneca-quotes-on-time/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:
🔗 viastoica.com/stoic-quotes🔗 viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes🔗 viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes🔗 viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.

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