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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Oculis de homine non credo, habeo melius et certius lumen quo a falsis uera diiudicem: animi bonum animus inueniat.

It is not that we are given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it.

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.

We say that nothing happens to the wise man against his expectation.

inveniet viam aut faciet.

Aut potentior te aut inbecillior laesit: si inbecillior, parce illi, si potentior, tibi.

Illud autem ante omnia memento, demere rebus tumultum ac videre quid in quaque re sit: scies nihil esse in istis terribile nisi ipsum timorem.

Being poor is not having too little, it is wanting more.

Tanta stultitia mortalium est.

A thatched roof once covered free men; under marble and gold dwells slavery.

'Tu me' inquis 'mones? iam enim te ipse monuisti, iam correxisti? ideo aliorum emendationi vacas?' Non sum tam improbus ut curationes aeger obeam, sed, tamquam in eodem valetudinario iaceam, de communi tecum malo colloquor et remedia communico.

To no creature besides man has been given wisdom, foresight, industry, and reflection.

I propose to value them according to their character, and not according to their duties. Each man acquires his character for himself, but accident assigns his duties.

Cogi qui potest nescit mori.

He who is everywhere is nowhere.