Seneca
Seneca
amiable ancestry born unless
No one is better born than another, unless they are born with better abilities and a more amiable disposition.
despised hate learned until
No one can be despised by another until he has learned to despise himself.
hard suffer suffering sweet
What was hard to suffer is sweet to remember.
fire given ignore return revenge simply wise
What should a wise person do when given a blow? Same as Cato when he was attacked; not fire up or revenge the insult., or even return the blow, but simply ignore it.
equal strive
To strive with an equal is dangerous; with a superior, mad; with an inferior, degrading.
age age-and-aging despicable lived man offer proof
There is nothing more despicable than an old man who has no other proof than his age to offer of his having lived long in the world.
friend friends-or-friendship sure themselves
Those that are a friend to themselves are sure to be a friend to all.
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.
cannot escape overcome
You cannot escape necessities, but you can overcome them.
service
You must live for another if you wish to live for yourself.
cast raised
Whatever fortune has raised to a height, she has raised only to cast it down.
Our care should not be to have lived long as to have lived enough.
crime-and-criminals
He has committed the crime who profits by it.
Whatever is well said by another, is mine.