Seneca the Younger Quotes

We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right." "True happiness is ... to enjoy the present" "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.

It's the great soul that surrenders itself to fate, but a puny degenerate thing that struggles.

A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.

Voyage, travel, and change of place impart vigor

It is the failing of youth not to be able to restrain its own violence.

Life is most delightful on the downward slope.

As many servants so many enemies.

How much does great prosperity overspread the mind with darkness.

There in no one more unfortunate than the man who has never been unfortunate. for it has never been in his power to try himself.

Whatever we owe, it is our part to find where to pay it, and to do it without asking, too; for whether the creditor be good or bad, the debt is still the same.

There are more people abusive to others than lie open to abuse themselves; but the humor goes round, and he that laughs at me today will have somebody to laugh at him tomorrow.

To give and to lose is nothing; but to lose and to give still is the part of a great mind.

Do you desire not to be angry? Be not inquisitive. He who inquires what is said of him only works out his own misery.

If true, the Pythagorean principles as to abstain from flesh, foster innocence; if ill-founded they at least teach us frugality, and what loss have you in losing your cruelty? It merely deprives you of the food of lions and vultures...let us ask what is best - not what is customary. Let us love temperance - let us be just - let us refrain from bloodshed.

It is man's duty to live in conformity with the divine will, and this means, firstly, bringing his life into line with 'nature's laws', and secondly, resigning himself completely and uncomplainingly to whatever fate may send him. Only by living thus, and not setting too high a value on things which can at any moment be taken away from him, can he discover that true, unshakeable peace and contentment to which ambition, luxury and above all avarice are among the greatest obstacles.

Let him who has given a favor be silent; let he who has received it tell it.

[During difficult times and after mistakes and failures it is helpful to remember ...] Oftentimes calamity turns to our advantage and great ruins make way for greater glories.

Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.

Shame may restrain what law does not prohibit.

It is the power of the mind to be unconquerable.

Dignity increases more easily than it begins.

True joy is a serene and sober motion; and they are miserably out so that take laughing for rejoicing; the seat of it is within, and there is no cheerfulness like the resolutions of a brave mind.

When one is friend on himself, also is friend of everybody.

Leisure without literature is death and burial alive.

Crime when it succeeds is called virtue.

Life is long if you know how to use it.

People do not die - they kill themselves.

To live is not a blessing, but to live well.

There is no power greater than true affection.

We sought therefore to amend our will, and not to suffer it through despite to languish long time in error.

It is well to be born either a king or a fool.

Man is a social animal.

Night brings our troubles to the light, rather than banishes them.

Plato once wanted to punish one of his slaves and asked his nephew to do the actual whipping for he himself did not own his anger.

It is more fitting for a man to laugh at life than to lament over it.

Philosophy is the health of the mind.

A dwarf is small even if he stands on a mountain; a colossus keeps his height, even if he stands in a well.

That moderation which nature prescribes, which limits our desires by resources restricted to our needs, has abandoned the field; it has now come to this -- that to want only what is enough is a sign both of boorishness and of utter destitution.

All we see and admire today will burn in the universal fire that ushers in a new, just, happy world.

If thou wishest to get rid of thy evil propensities, thou must keep far from evil companions.

The kind of solace that arises from having company in misery is spiteful.

Success is not greedy, as people think, but insignificant. That is why it satisfies nobody.

Philosophy takes as her aim the state of happiness...she shows us what are real and what are only apparent evils. She strips men's minds of empty thinking, bestows a greatness that is solid and administers a check to greatness where it is puffed up and all an empty show; she sees that we are left no doubt about the difference between what is great and what is bloated.

The customs of that most criminal nation (Israel) have gained such strength that they have now been received in all lands. The conquered have given laws to the conquerors.

If you will fear nothing, think that all things are to be feared.

That is never too often repeated, which is never sufficiently learned.

It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen that is the common right of humanity.

It is the mind that makes us rich and happy, in what condition soever we are, and money signifies no more to it than it does to the gods.