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
discipline evil heart human powerful propensity subdued
No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may mot be subdued by discipline.
cases envy estimate evil less loss troubles
No evil is without its compensation. The less money, the less trouble; the less favor, the less envy. Even in those cases which put us out of wits, it is not the loss itself, but the estimate of the loss that troubles us.
behind constant evil fault looks quality
It is the constant fault and inseparable evil quality of ambition, that it never looks behind it.
evil heart human powerful propensity subdued
No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline.
avarice evil promise promises purple rewards robe varied vices
There is no evil that does not promise inducements. Avarice promises money; luxury, a varied assortment of pleasures; ambition, a purple robe and applause. Vices tempt you by the rewards they offer.
attention behold brave direct equal evil man matched turning worthy
Behold a worthy sight, to which the God, turning his attention to his own work, may direct his gaze. Behold an equal thing, worthy of a God, a brave man matched in conflict with evil fortune.
bottom economy economy-and-economics late
Economy is too late when you are at the bottom of your purse.
drag fate fates lead
The fates lead the willing, and drag the unwilling.
sentiments
Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob.
men
It is the superfluous things for which men sweat.
dislike great measure mind prefer sign
It is the sign of a great mind to dislike greatness, and prefer things in measure to things in excess.
quality quantity rather
It is the quality rather than the quantity that matters.
enjoy mar pleasure pleasures present
So enjoy present pleasures as to not mar those to come.
abandoned both desires limits moderation nature resources restricted sign utter
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.