On the Shortness of Life by Senecaby Parker on TwosIt's not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it's been given to us in generous measure for accomplishing the greatest things, if the whole of it is well invested. But when life is squandered through soft and careless living, and when it's spent on no worthwhile pursuit, death finally presses and we realize that the life which we didn't notice passing has passed away.The life we are given isn't short but we make it so; we're not ill provided but we are wasteful of life.Many are kept busy either striving after other people's wealth or complaining about their own.Vices surround us on all sides, and they don't allow us to rise again and lift our eyes to the clear discernment of truth; but they press down on them, keeping them lowered and fixed on mere desire.Find full relaxation from your desires.You'll find no one willing to distribute his money; but to how many people each of us shares out his life.Men are thrifty in guarding their private property, but as soon as it comes to wasting time, they are most extravagant with the one commodity for which it's respectable to be greedy.How much time has been lost to groundless anguish, foolish pleasure, greedy desire, the charms of society; how little is left to you from your own store of time.You waste time as if it comes from a source full to overflowing when all the while that very day which is given over to someone or something may be your last.Are you not ashamed to keep for yourself only the remnants of your existence, and to allocate to philosophical thought only that portion of time which can't be applied to any business?Among the worst cases I count also those who give their time to nothing but drink and lust; for these are the most shameful preoccupations of all.You can cite for me people who are greedy, those quick to anger, or people who busy themselves with unjust hatreds or wars; but all of them sin in a more manly fashion. It is those abandoned to the belly and lust who bear the stain of dishonor.