Seneca
Seneca
behind constant evil fault looks quality
It is the constant fault and inseparable evil quality of ambition, that it never looks behind it.
bear hard memory sweet
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.
bottom economy economy-and-economics late
Economy is too late when you are at the bottom of your purse.
behind self-knowledge sins
Other men's sins are before our eyes; our own are behind our backs.
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.
fools-and-foolishness hatred inflicted
A foolishness is inflicted with a hatred of itself.
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
cringe defiance face ought shall surrender
Shall I tell you what the real evil is? To cringe to the things that are called evils, to surrender to them our freedom, in defiance of which we ought to face any suffering.
nature requires
What nature requires is obtainable, and within easy reach. It is for the superfluous we sweat.
brought call mastered ourselves passions temptation themselves vices
We should every night call ourselves to an account: what infirmity have I mastered today? what passions opposed? what temptation resisted? what virtue acquired? Our vices will abate of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift.
false
True praise comes often even to the lowly; false praise only to the strong.
anticipate foolish wretched
Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes.
good great happiness happy man master needs powerful wisdom within
Wisdom allows nothing to be good that will not be so forever; no man to be happy but he that needs no other happiness than what he has within himself; no man to be great or powerful that is not master of himself.