Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Of Providence cover art

Of Providence

By: Seneca
Narrated by: Roger Kennedy
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $7.99

Buy Now for $7.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

The full title of Seneca’s work Of Providence is "Why do misfortunes happen to good men, if providence exists?". The longer title reflects the essay’s theme which is more concerned with theodicy and the question of why bad things happen to good people, rather than with providence. 

The essay is written as a dialogue in six brief sections, opened by Lucilius complaining to his friend Seneca that misfortunes befall to good people too. How does this fit with the goodness associated with the design of providence? Seneca replies according to the Stoic point of view: nothing actually bad can happen to the wise man because opposites do not mix. What appears to be adversity is really a means by which the good man exerts his virtues. As such, he can come out of the ordeal stronger than before. 

According to Seneca, the wise man understands destiny and therefore he has nothing to fear. Neither does he hope for anything, because he already has everything he needs - his good behaviour.

Public Domain (P)2020 Museum Audiobooks

What listeners say about Of Providence

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.