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
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.
common people regarded religion rulers
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.
people satisfies success
Success is not greedy, as people think, but insignificant. That is why it satisfies nobody.
beyond both either existence ignorant life men middle people transcends
Ignorant people see life as either existence or non-existence, but wise men see it beyond both existence and non-existence to something that transcends them both; this is an observation of the Middle Way.
appearance general greater people whom
There are no greater wretches in the world than many of those whom people in general take to be happy.
bent cares hungry justice listens nor people prayers
A hungry people listens not to reason, nor cares for justice, nor is bent by any prayers
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.