Seneca
Seneca
remove restraint severe
Remove severe restraint and what will become of virtue?
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.
according nature opinions thou wilt
If thou live according to nature, thou wilt never be poor; if according to the opinions of the world, thou wilt never be rich.
almost sinned
He who repents of having sinned is almost innocent.
ancestry boasts deed praises
He who boasts of his descent, praises the deed of another.
powerful
He is the most powerful who has himself, in his power.
desires fears king
He is a king who fears nothing, he is a king who desires nothing!
close either god openly placed whatever
Whatever is to make us better and happy, God has placed either openly before us or close to us.
bounds due security state whatever
Whatever has overstepped its due bounds is always in a state of instability.
genius mixture
There is no genius without a mixture of madness.
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.
money
But it is a pretty thing to see what money will do!
adversity behold brave conflict contest man matched worthy
Behold a contest worthy of a god, a brave man matched in conflict with adversity
enjoy mar pleasure pleasures present
So enjoy present pleasures as to not mar those to come.