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
cannot escape overcome
You cannot escape necessities, but you can overcome them.
art bear borne bravely cannot endured girl midst pain scorned short slight thou
Pain, scorned by yonder gout-ridden wretch, endured by yonder dyspeptic in the midst of his dainties, borne bravely by the girl in travail. Slight thou art, if I can bear thee, short thou art if I cannot bear thee!
cannot excellent pain prolonged remember severe
Remember that pain has this most excellent quality. If prolonged it cannot be severe, and if severe it cannot be prolonged.
brainy cannot gem man nor polished
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
bear hard memory sweet
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.
charm charming conversation insidious love secrets
Conversation has a kind of charm about it, an insuating and insidious something that elicits secrets from us just like love or liquor.
charm conversation insidious love secrets
Conversation has a kind of charm about it, an insinuating and insidious something that elicits secrets just like love or liquor.
expectation running serve
Even if it is to be, what end do you serve by running to distress?
affairs fate rules
Fate rules the affairs of men, with no recognizable order.
along fate leads
Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.
behind self-knowledge sins
Other men's sins are before our eyes; our own are behind our backs.
body disease
Disease is not of the body but of the place.
cute-love love sweet-love true whom
Those whom true love has held, it will go on holding.
actions firmness itself life mastery mind precept teaches wisdom words
Wisdom does not show itself so much in precept as in life -- in firmness of mind and a mastery of appetite. It teaches us to do as well as to talk; and to make our words and actions all of a color.