Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Lucius Annaeus Senecawas a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionStatesman
act action considered unless
No action will be considered blameless, unless the will was so, for by the will the act was dictated.
flow flowing inward peace tears
Let tears flow of their own accord: their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony.
dry eyes merely observe shed tears
Many shed tears merely for show, and have dry eyes when no one's around to observe them.
amiable ancestry born unless
No one is better born than another, unless they are born with better abilities and a more amiable disposition.
despised hate learned until
No one can be despised by another until he has learned to despise himself.
hard suffer suffering sweet
What was hard to suffer is sweet to remember.
fire given ignore return revenge simply wise
What 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.
equal strive
To strive with an equal is dangerous; with a superior, mad; with an inferior, degrading.
age age-and-aging despicable lived man offer proof
There is nothing more despicable than an old man who has no other proof than his age to offer of his having lived long in the world.
friend friends-or-friendship sure themselves
Those that are a friend to themselves are sure to be a friend to all.
confess laid people waking
Why do people not confess vices? It is because they have not yet laid them aside. It is a waking person only who can tell their dreams.
cannot escape overcome
You cannot escape necessities, but you can overcome them.
service
You must live for another if you wish to live for yourself.
cast raised
Whatever fortune has raised to a height, she has raised only to cast it down.