Welcome to The Stoic Ledger, a daily money meditation from one of the Stoic sages.

42/365: Epicurus on the freedom formula

Seneca often took loans from different schools of thought. The quote above is a prime example of this, reaching into the jar of Epicurean teaching. The less you need, the less you want, the more you have.

Seneca borrowed this quote because it underlines the simple truth of attaining a rich life. That there are just two sides to the rich formula: money and desire.

Each of us has a different number. The one where we set our pencils down, stand from the desk, and redeem our freedom ticket.

The number changes as a function of desire. Want to live in a high cost of living area? Higher need. Appreciate newer model cars? Higher need.

The linear solve for higher needs is to force a multiplier or a higher integer in front of the money variable.

But we must question what rich means in this life. Is it more economic status? Is it more stuff? Is it even money?

Because if it’s not, there’s a quick way to instantly increase your wealth: reduce your desires.

Money - desire = wealth.

If you have $5 and desire $10 of goods, you are poor.

If you have $5 and desire $5 of goods, you are content.

If you have $5 and desire $0 of goods, you are rich.

What can we learn from the right side of this equation?