Seneca the Younger Quotes
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It is one thing to remember, another to know. To remember is to safeguard something entrusted to the memory. But to know is to make each thing one's own, not depend on the text and always to look back to the teacher. "Zeno said this, Cleanthes said this." Let there be space between you and the book.
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Where silence is not allowed, what then is permissible?
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Religion worships God, while superstition profanes that worship.
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Many shed tears merely for show, and have dry eyes when no one's around to observe them.
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Who shrinks from knowledge of his calamities but aggravates his fear; troubles half seen, shall torture all the more.
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Let the man, who would be grateful, think of repaying a kindness, even while receiving it.
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Shall I tell you what philosophy holds out to humanity? Counsel...You are called in to help the unhappy.
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Choose as a guide one whom you will admire more when you see him act than when you hear him speak.
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The place one's in, though, doesn't make any contribution to peace of mind: it's the spirit that makes everything agreeable to oneself.
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To preserve the life of citizens, is the greatest virtue in the father of his country.
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The foremost art of Kings is the power to endure hatred.
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Fire tries gold, misery tries brave men.
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We suffer more often in imagination than in reality. We must learn to control and focus the force of our imagination on the good, bright side so it is positive and constructive helping ourselves and others, rather than let its force focus on the bad, dark side so it is negative and destructive hurting ourselves and others!
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This is the reason we cannot complain of life: it keeps no one against his will.
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The arts are the servant; wisdom its master.
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Be not too hasty either with praise or blame; speak always as though you were giving evidence before the judgement-seat of the Gods.
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Our fears vanish as the danger approaches.
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No man ever became wise by chance.
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Of war men ask the outcome, not the cause.
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Great men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.
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It is the fault of youth that it cannot restrain its own impetuosity.
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If you are wise, You will mingle one thing with the other- Not hoping without doubt; Not doubting without hope.
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People pay the doctor for his trouble; for his kindness they still remain in his debt.
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I am not born from a single place. My country is the whole world.