Born in 1632, he lived a frugal life in a modest boarding house. He made a living by grinding lenses, and his only other income consisted of small stipends from acquaintances who deeply admired his philosophy.
He relished his solitude. In that quiet isolation, he enjoyed the time dedicated to his studies and philosophical research, which ultimately brought him peace of mind. He even declined a prestigious university professorship that would have matched his growing reputation.
Within his own solitude, he conceived the profound philosophy that "God is Nature, and Nature is God." This very idea brought him great trouble and ultimately led to his excommunication from the Jewish community, but he did not mind. In his solitude, he set out to find the answer to a very warm and practical question: "How can human beings escape anxiety and suffering to achieve peace and happiness?"
"Crying in resentment of the falling rain is the life of a slave, but understanding the natural logic of why it rains and opening an umbrella is true freedom." This was the enlightenment he discovered.
On February 21, 1677, Baruch Spinoza—the lens-grinding philosopher who sought answers to the "power to affirm life" and "true freedom"—passed away. On a Sunday morning, he smoked and chatted with his landlord. While the landlord was away attending church, he quietly closed his eyes for the final time.
(Source: A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton)
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