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  • Essay / Horace's Philosophy of Life: Embracing the Present

    Horace's philosophy of life, I believe, can be summed up quite effectively by this line from his poem Gather Ye Rosebuds, addressed to Leuconoe: "This day t 'belongs, the next one can be refused'. Horace seeks to thrive in life by taking advantage of “the present hour” and living a life worth living. He finds no joy in wars or worries, but says that life is only worth living if one can enjoy it as much as possible. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Gather Ye Rosebuds is the first poem in which Horace attests to this philosophy of life. He tells Leuconoe that he doesn't care what the astrologers predict, or anything that may happen to him, he believes that we are powerless to act against the fate of the world, so we must drink a lot, be happy, not to think. the future, and generally enjoy each day as it comes. While we debate policy or future uncertainties, the time you could benefit from is running out. I think this most strongly shows Horace's philosophy of life. Horace also tells us that deciding to save and be strict with money is wasteful. “Enjoy Your Possessions While They Are Yours” is a poem that describes death and its inevitability, but also contrasts it with the beauty of life that you could enjoy right now. It describes a beautiful villa on the banks of the Tiber, which you worked long and hard to buy, just for your heirs to rush in and collect all your hoarded gold, then probably waste it. Horace wants us to enjoy using our money now, and not be afraid to leave it with anyone, because you'll be dead and they'll squander it anyway. He also mentions this in "We All Must Die", saying that death is inevitable and your heirs will quickly forget you once you're dead, so there's no point in giving them everything you've done. Horace's philosophy also includes his wish to escape "all this", in "A Quiet Life" he talks at length about the fact that humans fight, humans struggle, humans live to find a calm and quiet life after cut. Soldiers endure hunger, cold and marches because they want to return home in peace. Money and power do not calm the chaos that reigns in the mind, nor does being a king. Horace preaches that we have few means, but that we are perfectly content with these means, and that we do not always seek more, always more. All the happiest man wants is peace and quiet. You can't escape from your destiny, no bodyguard will let you escape from fear, so you have to laugh and be cheerful to drown out all those negative feelings and aim to live a calm and peaceful life. In “Enjoy the Now,” Horace once again shows his philosophy of living life to the fullest. He speaks of a bitterly cold mountainside outside, but delights in the warmth of his hearth, wine, and a little light conversation to pass the time. He says that the future is the domain of the gods, that they worry about time and seasons, life and death, “seize the present hour” and live in the present moment. He says that one day we will all see death coming for us, at some point, and that old age will ravage our bodies, but one must love one's youth before these things, to live a fulfilling life. The best times are now, and only the gods have to worry about tomorrow. Keep in mind: this is just a sample...