Seneca the Younger Quotes
-
Many discoveries are reserved for ages still to come . . . . Our universe is a sorry little affair unless it has in it something for every age to investigate.
-
Anyone can stop a man's life, but no one his death; a thousand doors open on to it.
-
True love can fear no one.
-
Apples taste sweetest when they're going.
-
The whole duty of man is embraced in the two principles of abstinence and patience: temperance in prosperity, and patient courage in adversity.
-
The foundation of the true joy is in the conscience.
-
The first petition that we are to make to Almighty God is for a good conscience, the next for health of mind, and then of body.
-
Sovereignty over any foreign land is insecure.
-
Straightforwardness and simplicity are in keeping with goodness. The things that are essential are acquired with little bother; it is the luxuries that call for toil and effort. To want simply what is enough nowadays suggests to people primitiveness and squalor.
-
Virtue hath no virtue if it be not impugned; then appeareth how great it is, of what value and power it is, when by patience it approveth what it works.
-
What is more insane than to vent on senseless things the anger that is felt towards men?
-
The pleasures of the palate deal with us like Egyptian thieves who strangle those whom they embrace.
-
The entire world would perish, if pity were not to limit anger.
-
Prudence and love cannot be mixed; you can end love, but never moderate it.
-
Plato once wanted to punish one of his slaves and asked his nephew to do the actual whipping for he himself did not own his anger.
-
Time discovers truth. Time heals what reason cannot.
-
Philosophy's power to blunt all the blows of circumstance is beyond belief.
-
Modesty once extinguished knows not how to return.
-
After death there is nothing.
-
Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is summary and effectual.
-
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness. As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
-
During difficult times and after mistakes and failures it is helpful to remember ... Oftentimes calamity turns to our advantage and great ruins make way for greater glories.
-
There is as much greatness of mind in the owning of a good turn as in the doing of it; and we must no more force a requital out of season than be wanting in it.
-
Watch over yourself. Be your own accuser, then your judge; ask yourself grace sometimes, and, if there is need, impose upon yourself some pain.