Seneca Quotes

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.

When a man has said: "I have lived!", every morning he arises he receives a bonus.

Let another say. “Perhaps the worst will not happen.” You yourself must say. “Well, what if it does happen? Let us see who wins! Perhaps it happens for my best interests; it may be that such a death will shed credit upon my life.”

Not lost, but gone before.

The one loves to do good, the other to do harm; the one to help even strangers, the other to attack even its dearest friends.

Quemadmodum Attalus noster dicere solebat, 'malitia ipsa maximam partem veneni sui bibit'. Illud venenum quod serpentes in alienam perniciem proferunt, sine sua continent, non est huic simile: hoc habentibus pessimum est.

It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough.

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

Difficulties strengthen the mind as labor does the body.

A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.

Atqui vivere, Lucili, militare est.

If you can be forced, you don’t know how to die.

Why then do you occupy me with the words rather than with the works of wisdom? Make me braver, make me calmer, make me the equal of Fortune, make me her superior.

The mind must be indulged, and leisure must be given from time to time, which is the place of food and strength.

The point is, not how long you live, but how nobly you live. And often this living nobly means that you cannot live long.