Seneca Quotes

No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity. For he is not permitted to prove himself.

Death is not an evil. What is it then? The one law making has that is free of all discrimination.

Non refert quam multos sed quam bonos habeas.

What, if you were to pass from the consideration of those single men against whom anger has broken out to view whole assemblies cut down by the sword, the people butchered by the soldiery let loose upon it, and whole nations condemned to death in one common ruin... as though by men who either freed themselves from our charge or despised our authority?

Virtue you will find in the temple, in the forum, in the senate-house—you will find her standing in front of the city walls, dusty and stained, and with calloused hands; pleasure you will more often find lurking out of sight and in the places that fear the police.

I will tell you: that perfect man, who has attained virtue, never cursed his luck, and never received the results of chance with dejection; he believed that he was citizen and soldier of the universe, accepting his tasks as if they were his orders. Whatever happened, he did not spurn it, as if it were evil and borne in upon him by hazard; he accepted it as if it were assigned to be his duty. “Whatever this may be,”he says, “it is my lot; it is rough and it is hard, but I must work diligently at the task.”

No one has condemned wisdom to poverty. The philosopher shall own ample wealth, but it will have been wrested from no man, nor will it be stained with another’s blood.

I will do nothing because of public opinion, but everything because of conscience.

Inwardly everything should be different, but out outward face should conform with the crowd.

I endured incredible trials because I could not endure myself.

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!

If you want to determine the nature of anything, entrust it to time: when the sea is stormy, you can see nothing clearly.

Reflect that there is no one who is less pleased by your grief than he to whom it seems to be offered; for he either does not wish you to suffer, or does not know that you do.

We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing.

Non est ad astra mollis e terris via.