Quotes By Lucius Annaeus Seneca

He who has made a fair compact with poverty is rich.

The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.

To be able to endure odium is the first art to be learned by those who aspire to power.

Why do I not seek some real good; one which I could feel, not one which I could display?

Every man prefers belief to the exercise of judgment.

The deferring of anger is the best antidote to anger.

A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.

A happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature.

Successful and fortunate crime is called virtue.

Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.

Ignorant people see life as either existence or non-existence, but wise men see it beyond both existence and non-existence to something that transcends them both; this is an observation of the Middle Way.

No untroubled day has ever dawned for me.

Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes.

Whenever the speech is corrupted so is the mind.

The mind unlearns with difficulty what it has long learned.

As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.

What is true belongs to me!

In war, when a commander becomes so bereft of reason and perspective that he fails to understand the dependence of arms on Divine guidance, he no longer deserves victory.

Shame may restrain what law does not prohibit.

Shun no toil to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other; yet do not devote yourself to one branch exclusively. Strive to get clear notions about all. Give up no science entirely; for science is but one.

A well governed appetite is the greater part of liberty.

The good things of prosperity are to be wished; but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired.

For greed all nature is too little.

We often want one thing and pray for another, not telling the truth even to the gods.

It makes a great deal of difference whether one wills not to sin or has not the knowledge to sin.

Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.

A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.

Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.