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
favorable man port wind
If a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favorable to him.
beyond burns fire gives life matter sun thunder wind
Life is the fire that burns and the sun that gives light. Life is the wind and the rain and the thunder in the sky. Life is matter and is earth, what is and what is not, and what beyond is in Eternity.
building carried drudgery equally form inventing inventions lessons lies lowest men object office pace parts perfection philosophy rapid teach time warmth windows writer
In my own time there have been inventions of this sort, transparent windows tubes for diffusing warmth equally through all parts of a building short-hand, which has been carried to such a perfection that a writer can keep pace with the most rapid speaker. But the inventing of such things is drudgery for the lowest slaves; philosophy lies deeper. It is not her office to teach men how to use their hands. The object of her lessons is to form the soul.
business port wind
If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.
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.