When she created us, nature endowed us with noble aspirations, and just as she gave certain animals ferocity, others timidity, others cunning, so to us she gave a spirit of exalted ambition, a spirit that takes us in search of a life of, not the greatest safety, but the greatest honour – a spirit very like the universe, which, so far as mortal footsteps may, it follows and adopts as a model.

— Seneca

Seneca Quotes

We, too, are lit and put out. We suffer somewhat in the intervening period, but at either end of it there is a deep tranquillity. For, unless I’m mistaken, we are wrong, my dear Lucilius, in holding that death follows after, when in fact it precedes as well as succeeds. Death is all that was before us. What does it matter, after all, whether you cease to be or never begin, when the result of either is that you do not exist?

— Seneca

A plant which is often moved can never go strong.

— Seneca

I know of no one with whom I should be willing to have you shared.

— Seneca

See to it that nothing keeps you down.

— Seneca

For by no wisdom can natural weakness of the body be removed. That which is implanted and inborn can be toned down by training, but not overcome.

— Seneca

It is equally faulty to trust everyone and to trust no one.

— Seneca

Some men shrink into dark corners, to such a degree that they see darkly by day.

— Seneca

You are teaching cruelty to a person who cannot learn to be cruel.

— Seneca

Discuss the problem with Nature; she will tell you that she has created both day and night.

— Seneca

It is too easy to side with the majority.

— Seneca

What then do you think the effect will be on character, when the world at large assaults it? You must either imitate or loathe the world.

— Seneca

Your good qualities should face inwards.

— Seneca

Virtue alone affords everlasting and peace-giving joy; even if some obstacle arise, it is but like an intervening cloud, which floats beneath the sun but never prevails against it. When will it be your lot to attain this joy? Thus far, you have indeed not been sluggish, but you must quicken your pace. Much toil remains; to confront it, you must yourself lavish all your waking hours, and all your efforts, if you wish the result to be accomplished.

— Seneca

Life on such heights ends in a fall.

— Seneca

The good that could be given, can be removed.

— Seneca

No man ought to glory except in that which is his own.

— Seneca

Everywhere means nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends. And the same thing must hold true of men who seek intimate acquaintance with no single author, but visit them all in a hasty and hurried manner.

— Seneca

Hope and fear, dissimilar as they are, keep step together; fear follows hope.

— Seneca

We should not believe the lack of silver and gold to be proof of the simple life.

— Seneca

We men torment ourselves over that which is to come as well as over that which is past... The present alone can make no man wretched.

— Seneca
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