Most mortals, Paulinus, complain of the malignity of nature, because we are born for so short a space of time, and because this course of life given to us flows by with such rapid speed, except for those who rank among fools, who forget what they have received and regret what passes. But this is not the evil, as they say: our life is short, and it is we who make it so; we do not have too little time, we lose much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given to us in great enough abundance for the accomplishment of the greatest things, if it were entirely well employed. But when it flows away in luxury and neglect, when it is employed in nothing honest, then, pressed by final necessity, we feel that it has passed without our having enjoyed it, and we do not understand that it is dying. Thus, it is not true that we have received little time; we lose much of it. The life we have is long enough, and we have received a sufficient measure of it to do the greatest things, if we knew how to employ it well. But when it flows away in pleasures and in laziness, when it is dedicated to no useful labor, then, in the end, pressed by necessity, we feel that it has passed without our having felt it, and we do not understand that it is dying. Do therefore, my dear Paulinus, what you would do if you had to embark on a long journey: put your affairs in order, and try to make yourself free. But this care must not be put off until tomorrow; for there is no day that is not the last for you, and that must not be regarded as such. We must live as if we were always to live, and at the same time as if we were to die the next day. There is no time more precious than that which we devote to wisdom, and there is none that is less wasted. For while we give ourselves over to other occupations, we are distracted by them; but when we cultivate wisdom, we are entirely to ourselves. There is no time more precious than that which we employ in philosophy, for it makes us free and takes us out of the slavery of the passions. There is no time less wasted, for it always brings us something back. Philosophy gives us rest, and it tears us away from the multitude of affairs. Who does not know that the life of men is short? But in what does its brevity consist? In that we do not enjoy it, and that we let it slip away without possessing it. We do not possess it, because we are always outside of ourselves, and we rush into the future, without enjoying the present. We do not know how to enjoy what we have, and we always desire what we do not have. That is why life seems short to us, because we do not measure it at its true value. It is long enough, if we know how to use it. But, as we lose it, it appears short to us. Let us therefore apply ourselves to employing it well, and we will see that it is long enough for all that we have to do. Let us not complain then of the brevity of life, but of our bad conduct. For we have enough time, if we wish to use it wisely. But if we dissipate it, we will never have enough of it. That is why, Paulinus, renounce all these occupations that distract you, and give yourself entirely to wisdom. Do not put it off until tomorrow; for each day must be the last for you, and you must live as if you were to die the next day. Thus, you will lose no time, and you will not be deceived by the hope of a long future. Life is long enough, if it is well employed. But, if it is badly employed, it is always too short. Do not let time escape then, and do not lose it in frivolous occupations. Live for yourself, and do not give yourself entirely to others. Philosophy is the only thing that can make you free and make you enjoy life. It will give you rest, and it will deliver you from anxiety. It will make you know the true duration of life, and it will teach you to employ it well. It will show you that life is not short, but that we make it so by our own fault. Apply yourself therefore to wisdom, and you will see that life is long enough for all that you have to do. Do not complain any more then of the brevity of life, but of your own negligence. For we have enough time, if we wish to use it wisely. But if we dissipate it, we will never have enough of it. That is, my dear Paulinus, what I had to tell you concerning the brevity of life. I hope these counsels will be useful to you, and that you will put them into practice. For it is not enough to know what must be done, it must also be done. Thus, renounce all the occupations that distract you, and give yourself entirely to wisdom. Do not put it off until tomorrow; for each day must be the last for you, and you must live as if you were to die the next day. Thus, you will lose no time, and you will not be deceived by the hope of a long future. Life is long enough, if it is well employed. But, if it is badly employed, it is always too short. Do not let time escape then, and do not lose it in frivolous occupations. Live for yourself, and do not give yourself entirely to others. Philosophy is the only thing that can make you free and make you enjoy life. It will give you rest, and it will deliver you from anxiety. It will make you know the true duration of life, and it will teach you to employ it well. It will show you that life is not short, but that we make it so by our own fault.