Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero. While he was forced to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero, he may have been innocent. His father was Seneca the Elder and his elder brother was Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus, called Gallio in the Bible.
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Crime which is prosperous and lucky is called virtue.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
The body is not a permanent dwelling, but a sort of inn (with a brief sojourn at that) which is to be left behind when one perceives that one is a burden to the host.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
The physician cannot prescribe by letter the proper time for eating or bathing; he must feel the pulse.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
True happiness is to understand our duties toward God and man; to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence on the future; not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears, but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is abundantly sufficient
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Satisfaction, Worry, The Present, Happiness, Joy
Knowledge of sin is the beginning of salvation.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Beginning, Knowledge, Sin, Wisdom, Courage
Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
The thing that matters is not what you bear, but how you bear it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
There is a noble manner of being poor, and who does not know it will never be rich.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Poverty
Nothing hinders a cure so much as frequent change of medicine.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
A good character is the only guarantee of everlasting, carefree happiness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Guarantee, Wisdom, Character, Happiness
Old age is a disease which we cannot cure.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Danger, Risk, Anxiety, Fear
The soul has this proof of its divinity: that divine things delight in it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
A good conscience fears no witness, but a guilty conscience is solicitous even in solitude.—If we do nothing but what is honest, let all the world know it.—But if otherwise, what does it signify to have nobody else know it, so long as I know it myself?—Miserable is he who slights that witness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Conscience
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Memories, God, Memory, Thought, Reason
People pay the doctor for his trouble; for his kindness they still remain in his debt.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
A quarrel is quickly settled when deserted by one party: there is no battle unless there be two.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
While we are postponing, life speeds by.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Life
If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Anxiety, Fear
Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Difficulty, Labor, Body, Difficulties
Live among men as if God beheld you; speak to God as if men were listening.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: God
Time heals what reason cannot.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Reason, Time
We often want one thing and pray for another, not telling the truth even to the Gods.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Where fear is, happiness is not.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Courage, Fear, Joy
Nothing is so bitter that a calm mind cannot find comfort in it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Everything may happen.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
One should count each day a separate life.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: One liners, Preparation, Luck, Opportunity
He who seeks wisdom is a wise man; he who thinks he has found it is mad.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
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