In this article, we examine A.D. Kantemir’s poem «On the quiet life» in comparison with the works by Seneca «On the happy life», «On tranquility of mind», and «Moral letters to Lucilius». Some works by Kantemir that are thematically related to this poem are also considered, namely, Satyre VI «About veritable beatitude», and «Letters about nature and man». The aim of this paper is to find out how Kantemir adopted Seneca’s philosophical ideas in his works. The character of Seneca is analyzed in the context of European historical consciousness. Our analysis reveals some ideas in Kantemir’s works that are consonant with Seneca’s treatises. At the same time, we can find some features of the ideal Horatian world in the works of the Russian satirist. We also identify some psalmic motifs of praising the Creator through His creations. These motifs in their combination contribute to a special kind of perception of the ancient heritage.
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