“God is the universal substance in existing things. He comprises all things. He is the fountain of all being. In Him exists everything that is.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“God is the universal substance in existing things. He comprises all things. He is the fountain of all being. In Him exists everything that is.”
Explanation
In this metaphysical statement, Seneca expresses a Stoic conception of divinity, identifying God not as a distant creator, but as the universal substance immanent in all things. God is not separate from the world but is present in every part of existence, the source and sustaining force of all being. This view reflects the Stoic belief in pantheism, where divine reason (logos) permeates the cosmos, giving it order, life, and rational structure.
Seneca, like other Stoics, regarded God not in anthropomorphic terms but as a rational, organizing principle, akin to nature itself. By saying that “in Him exists everything that is,” he affirms that all reality is unified and divine, and that human beings, as rational creatures, partake in this divine nature. Thus, to live in harmony with reason is to live in accordance with God.
In modern spiritual and philosophical thought, this quote speaks to ideas of interconnectedness, sacred immanence, and the unity of all existence. It aligns with views found in both Eastern and Western traditions that emphasize the divine within the world rather than beyond it. Seneca’s words invite us to see the universe not as chaotic or alien, but as a coherent, meaningful whole—and to find our place within it through wisdom, humility, and reverence.
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