Seneca Quotes

It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it.

The archer must know what he is seeking to hit; then he must aim and control the weapon by his skill. Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind. Chance must necessarily have great influence over our lives, because we live by chance. It is the case with certain men, however, that they do not know that they know certain things. Just as we often go searching for those who stand beside us, so we are apt to forget that the goal of the Supreme Good lies near us.

Let us now enquire whether anger be in accordance with nature, and whether it be useful and worth entertaining in some measure.

Ante senectutem curavi ut bene viverem, in senectute ut bene moriar; bene autem mori est libenter mori.

These actions are not essentially difficult; it is we ourselves that are soft and flabby.

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

Other vices can be concealed and cherished in secret; anger shows itself openly and appears in the countenance, and the greater it is, the more plainly it boils forth. Do you not see how in all animals certain signs appear before they proceed to mischief, and how their entire bodies put off their usual quiet appearance and stir up their ferocity? Boars foam at the mouth and sharpen their teeth by rubbing them against trees, bulls toss their horns in the air and scatter the sand with blows of their feet

Rationale enim animal est homo.

Or, if you enjoy living with Greeks also, spend your time with Socrates and with Zeno: the former will show you how to die if it be necessary; the latter how to die before it is necessary. Live with Chrysippus, with Posidonius: they will make you acquainted with things earthly and things heavenly; they will bid you work hard over something more than neat turns of language and phrases mouthed forth for the entertainment of listeners; they will bid you be stout of heart and rise superior to threats. The only harbour safe from the seething storms of this life is scorn of the future, a firm stand, a readiness to receive Fortune’s missiles full in the breast, neither skulking nor turning the back.

Excess in anything becomes a fault.

No state is so bitter than a calm mind cannot find in it some consolation.

Those who have been placed in high position should bestow pardon for many things, should seek pardon for none.

Upon nothing am I more strongly resolved than not to change my course of life to suit your opinion.

Timendi causa est nescire. (The cause of fear is ignorance).

Should I be surprised that dangers which have always surrounded me should at last attack me? A great part of mankind, when about to sail, do not think of a storm.