Seneca Quotes

Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman and dramatist (c. 4 BCE–65 CE)

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Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 BC – A.D. 65), often known simply as Seneca, or Seneca the Younger, was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and humorist. He was the son of Seneca the Elder.

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Native Name: Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Alternative Names: Seneca the Younger • the Younger Seneca • Lucio Anneo Seneca • Annaeus Seneca • Lucius Annaeus Seneca minor • Lucius Annaeus Seneca Iunior • L. Annæus Seneca • Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger

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Everything hangs on one’s thinking...A man is as unhappy as he has convinced himself he is.

Love of bustle is not industry.

So the wise man will develop virtue, if he may, in the midst of wealth, or, if not, in poverty; if possible, in his own country—if not, in exile; if possible, as a commander—if not, as a common soldier; if possible, in sound health—if not, enfeebled. Whatever fortune he finds, he will accomplish therefrom something noteworthy.

[Mucius] might have accomplished something more successful in that camp, but never anything more brave.

Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.

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

Nulla res citius in odium venit quam dolor, qui recens consolatorem invenit et aliquos ad se adducit, inveteratus vero deridetur, nec inmerito.

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

ars prima regni est posse invidiam pati.

That you may know that they whom anger possesses are not sane, look at their appearance; for as there are distinct symptoms which mark madmen, such as a bold and menacing air, a gloomy brow, a stern face

Happy is the man who can make others better, not merely when he is in their company, but even when he is in their thoughts!

He who does not wish to die cannot have wished to live.

We are driven by fate and must yield to fate.
No anxious fretting can alter
the threads from that commanding spindle.

See the foundations of the most celebrated cities hardly now to be discerned; they were ruined by anger. See deserts extending for many miles without an inhabitant: they have been desolated by anger.

Our minds must have relaxation: rested, they will rise up better and keener. Just as we must not force fertile fields (for uninterrupted production will quickly exhaust them), so continual labor will break the power of our minds. They will recover their strength, however, after they have had a little freedom and relaxation.