Moral Essays, Volume I

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, born at Corduba (Cordova) around 4 BCE, hailed from a prominent and wealthy family. He spent his ailing childhood and youth in Rome under the care of an aunt. Seneca became renowned for his skills in rhetoric, philosophy, money-making, and imperial service. Despite facing disgrace during Claudius' reign, he rose to become a tutor and then, in 54 CE, an advising minister to Nero, failing to prevent some of Nero's worst misdeeds. In 65 CE, after being (innocently?) involved in a conspiracy, Seneca was ordered to take his own life. Although wealthy, he preached indifference to wealth; though he evaded pain and death, he spoke of scorn for both. Some contrasts existed between his practice and principles.

We have Seneca's philosophical or moral essays—ten traditionally known as Dialogues—covering topics such as providence, steadfastness, the happy life, anger, leisure, tranquility, the brevity of life, gift-giving, and forgiveness, along with treatises on natural phenomena. Also extant are 124 epistles, written in a relaxed style, addressing moral and ethical questions, and relating them to personal experiences. Additionally, there is a satirical skit on the official deification of Claudius, Apocolocyntosis (in Loeb number 15), and nine rhetorical tragedies on ancient Greek themes. Many of Seneca's epistles and all his speeches are lost.

His moral essays are collected in Volumes I–III of the Loeb Classical Library's ten-volume edition of Seneca.