You want to live-but do you know how to live? You are scared of dying-and, tell me, is the kind of life you lead really any different from being dead?
Seneca the YoungerVirtue depends partly upon training and partly upon practice; you must learn first, and then strengthen your learning by actions.
Seneca the YoungerPrecepts or maxims are of great weight; and a few useful ones at hand do more toward a happy life than whole volumes that we know not where to find.
Seneca the YoungerWe all sorely complain of the shortness of time, and yet have much more than we know what to do with. Our lives are either spent in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end of them.
Seneca the YoungerWhat does reason demand of a man? A very easy thing-to live in accord with his own nature.
Seneca the YoungerWhat should a wise person do when given a blow? Same as Cato when he was attacked; not fire up or revenge the insult., or even return the blow, but simply ignore it.
Seneca the YoungerThe most miserable mortals are they that deliver themselves up to their palates, or to their lusts; the pleasure is short, and turns presently nauseous, and the end of it is either shame or repentance.
Seneca the YoungerNo man is born wise; but wisdom and virtue require a tutor; though we can easily learn to be vicious without a master.
Seneca the YoungerTruth will never be tedious unto him that travelleth in the secrets of nature; there is nothing but falsehood that glutteth us.
Seneca the YoungerTo preserve the life of citizens, is the greatest virtue in the father of his country.
Seneca the YoungerWatch over yourself. Be your own accuser, then your judge; ask yourself grace sometimes, and, if there is need, impose upon yourself some pain.
Seneca the YoungerLet tears flow of their own accord; their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony.
Seneca the YoungerPrecepts are the rules by which we ought to square our lives. When they are contracted into sentences, they strike the affections; whereas admonition is only blowing of the coal.
Seneca the YoungerHe that will do no good offices after a disappointment must stand still, and do just nothing at all. The plough goes on after a barren year; and while the ashes are yet warm, we raise a new house upon the ruins of a former.
Seneca the YoungerThe man who does something under orders is not unhappy; he is unhappy who does something against his will.
Seneca the YoungerOn him does death lie heavily, who, but too well known to all, dies to himself unknown.
Seneca the YoungerTo lose a friend is the greatest of all evils, but endeavour rather to rejoice that you possessed him than to mourn his loss.
Seneca the YoungerCertain laws have not been written, but they are more fixed than all the written laws.
Seneca the YoungerWe are born subjects, and to obey God is perfect liberty. He that does this shall be free, safe and happy.
Seneca the YoungerThe velocity with which time flies is infinite, as is most apparent to those who look back.
Seneca the YoungerTo expel hunger and thirst there is no necessity of sitting in a palace and submitting to the supercilious brow and contumelious favour of the rich and great there is no necessity of sailing upon the deep or of following the camp What nature wants is every where to be found and attainable without much difficulty whereas require the sweat of the brow for these we are obliged to dress anew j compelled to grow old in the field and driven to foreign mores A sufficiency is always at hand
Seneca the YoungerLife is divided into three periods: that which has been, that which is, that which will be. Of these the present is short, the future is doubtful, the past is certain.
Seneca the Younger