The “Consolation” was so popular that Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, translated it into Old English. Geoffrey Chaucer and Queen Elizabeth I also offered their own English translations in the 14th and 16th centuries. So why has this book been so influential, and why is it worth considering today? The answers lie in the story of its author.
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius was born in Rome in around A.D. 480. His father, an influential statesman, died when Boethius was a young boy. Thanks to the support of a wealthy family friend, Boethius studied music, mathematics, theology, and philosophy with private tutors. His rare ability to read and write in Ancient Greek earned him esteem as a scholar. He was interested in preserving Plato and Aristotle’s works through translations, a project that set an influential example for monastic orders; these eventually became the greatest repositories of ancient knowledge in the Middle Ages.
Despite an impressive record, Boethius’s political career was cut short when he was accused of conspiracy against Theodoric. Innocence notwithstanding, Boethius was imprisoned in Pavia, Italy, in 523. One year later, he was brutally executed.
1. On Fortune’s Volatility
The “Consolation” begins with a pithy poem where Boethius laments his situation:I am worn out. Death, if he come Not in the years of sweetness But often called to those who want to end their misery is welcome. My cries he does not hear; Cruel he will not close my weeping eyes.
At this low point a mysterious figure appears. Her “eyes were bright as fire,” and “her complexion was lively, her vigour showed no trace of enfeeblement; and yet her years were right full, and she plainly seemed not of our age and time.” She is Lady Philosophy, who has come to rescue Boethius from his predicament.
Lady Philosophy immediately scolds Boethius’s defeatism, reminding him that wallowing in self-pity can’t solve his unease. A symbol of reason and clarity, Lady Philosophy tells the prisoner that the only way to overcome his sorrows is to understand their nature. The way to understanding is reason.
As a first “remedy” for Boethius’s spiritual illness, Lady Philosophy discusses fortune. By “fortune,” she means all worldly things, like wealth, power, and even physical health. As she tells Boethius, these things are inherently volatile. Our material status could change from one moment to the next. A financial crash could deplete all our savings. An illness could impair our health irrevocably. Or, as was the case for Boethius, a political schema could flip our lives upside down.
Fortune seems to be indifferent to human suffering. It bestows blessings only to take them away without notice. Lady Philosophy warns Boethius that relying on fortune for happiness is not only useless, but also counterproductive. Wealth, power, and health—each can be lost in a moment. If we place faith in volatile things, we'll become dependent on circumstances beyond our control.
2. The Divine Order
After convincing Boethius that fortune is unreliable, Lady Philosophy moves to “providence,” implying that a heavenly order governs the universe. She encourages Boethius to consider that, while misfortunes appear meaningless or unjust, they may be part of a divinely orchestrated story. We may think that that story is arbitrary, but Lady Philosophy suggests that such a story is guided by reason and wisdom. Although we can’t always grasp the purpose behind worldly events, they’re caused by a benevolent Creator. As such, they ultimately serve the good.3. Evil only Harms Itself
If providence was difficult for Boethius to understand, so was the problem of evil. It’s one thing for Boethius to accept his situation in the prison cell. But what about the injustices that got him there? Why would a divine order allow Boethius’s accusers to inflict harm?Reason, Virtue, and Faith in the Divine Order
Boethius’s journey from confusion and despair to understanding offers timeless insights into the nature of happiness. It’s no accident that so many influential figures devoted time, money, and attention to the “Consolation of Philosophy.” One of its most memorable conclusions is that happiness can’t be reduced to simple pleasure. It’s something much deeper and more lasting that can only flourish once we adopt reason as our north star.
Everyone experiences hardships. Our struggles vary in gravity, but they all seem to rob us of happiness. The “Consolation of Philosophy” reminds us that reliance on external circumstances is inevitably inadequate to attain spiritual stability. That stability is found within, in the cultivation of an inner life that adopts reason, virtue, and faith in the divine order as its guiding principles. These insights came from a prisoner awaiting his violent death. The least we can do to honor Boethius is to consider his wisdom and apply it to our own lives.
