Seneca Quotes

Most popular Seneca Quotes

Learn how to feel joy. - Seneca quote.
Learn how to feel joy.
— Seneca
Everything may happen. - Seneca quote.
Everything may happen.
— Seneca
Man is a social animal. - Seneca quote.
Man is a social animal.
— Seneca Ethics

mankind man the animal

He who is brave is free. - Seneca quote.
He who is brave is free.
— Seneca

freedom

While we teach we learn. - Seneca quote.
While we teach we learn.
— Seneca
Man is a reasoning animal. - Seneca quote.
Man is a reasoning animal.

mankind man the animal

Luck never made a man wise. - Seneca quote.
Luck never made a man wise.
— Seneca

luck

Whatever begins, also ends. - Seneca quote.
Whatever begins, also ends.
— Seneca
Teach the art of living well. - Seneca quote.
Teach the art of living well.
— Seneca
As the world leads, we follow. - Seneca quote.
As the world leads, we follow.
— Seneca
Time heals what reason cannot. - Seneca quote.
Time heals what reason cannot.
— Seneca Agamemnon

time

Luck never made any man wiser. - Seneca quote.
Luck never made any man wiser.
— Seneca
No man was ever wise by chance. - Seneca quote.
No man was ever wise by chance.
— Seneca

wisdom

If you would judge, understand. - Seneca quote.
If you would judge, understand.
— Seneca
Love of bustle is not industry. - Seneca quote.
Love of bustle is not industry.
— Seneca
A good mind possesses a kingdom. - Seneca quote.
A good mind possesses a kingdom.
— Seneca
Speech is the index of the mind. - Seneca quote.
Speech is the index of the mind.
— Seneca
Old age is an incurable disease. - Seneca quote.
Old age is an incurable disease.

old age

Disaster is Virtue's opportunity. - Seneca quote.
Disaster is Virtue's opportunity.

disasters

All cruelty springs from weakness. - Seneca quote.
All cruelty springs from weakness.
— Seneca

kindness

The best ideas are common property. - Seneca quote.
The best ideas are common property.

ideas

All art is but imitation of nature. - Seneca quote.
All art is but imitation of nature.
— Seneca
A great fortune is a great slavery. - Seneca quote.
A great fortune is a great slavery.
— Seneca
Success makes some crimes honorable. - Seneca quote.
Success makes some crimes honorable.
— Seneca
This body is not a home, but an inn. - Seneca quote.
This body is not a home, but an inn.
— Seneca
The greatest cure for anger is delay. - Seneca quote.
The greatest cure for anger is delay.
— Seneca

anger

Philosophy is the health of the mind. - Seneca quote.
Philosophy is the health of the mind.
— Seneca
Abstinence is easier than temperance. - Seneca quote.
Abstinence is easier than temperance.
— Seneca
A great mind becomes a great fortune. - Seneca quote.
A great mind becomes a great fortune.
— Seneca

fortune intelligence

Philosophy is the art and law of life. - Seneca quote.
Philosophy is the art and law of life.
— Seneca
Light cares speak, great ones are dumb. - Seneca quote.
Light cares speak, great ones are dumb.
— Seneca
Greed's worst point is its ingratitude. - Seneca quote.
Greed's worst point is its ingratitude.

greed

You roll my log, and I will roll yours. - Seneca quote.
You roll my log, and I will roll yours.
— Seneca
While we are postponing, life speeds by. - Seneca quote.
While we are postponing, life speeds by.
— Seneca

procrastination

One should count each day a separate life. - Seneca quote.
One should count each day a separate life.
— Seneca

life

A great soul prefers moderation to excess. - Seneca quote.
A great soul prefers moderation to excess.

moderation

Courage leads starward, fear toward death. - Seneca quote.
Courage leads starward, fear toward death.
— Seneca
No man is free who is a slave to the flesh. - Seneca quote.
No man is free who is a slave to the flesh.
— Seneca
Noble examples stir us up to noble actions. - Seneca quote.
Noble examples stir us up to noble actions.
— Seneca
It is part of the cure to wish to be cured. - Seneca quote.
It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.
— Seneca

health mental health

The sharper the storm, the sooner it's over. - Seneca quote.
The sharper the storm, the sooner it's over.
— Seneca
The greatest wealth is a poverty of desires. - Seneca quote.
The greatest wealth is a poverty of desires.
— Seneca

desire wealth contentment

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage. - Seneca quote.
Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.
— Seneca
Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness. - Seneca quote.
Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness.
— Seneca

drinking

Who chance often passes by, it finds at last. - Seneca quote.
Who chance often passes by, it finds at last.
— Seneca
Gold is tried by fire, brave men by adversity. - Seneca quote.
Gold is tried by fire, brave men by adversity.

adversity bravery

How rare to find old age and happiness in one! - Seneca quote.
How rare to find old age and happiness in one!
— Seneca
Even after a bad harvest, there must be sowing. - Seneca quote.
Even after a bad harvest, there must be sowing.
— Seneca
The foundation of true joy is in the conscience. - Seneca quote.
The foundation of true joy is in the conscience.
— Seneca
That which takes effect by chance is not an art. - Seneca quote.
That which takes effect by chance is not an art.
— Seneca
The conscience of well-doing is an ample reward. - Seneca quote.
The conscience of well-doing is an ample reward.
— Seneca
Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. - Seneca quote.
Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.
— Seneca
It is quality rather than quantity that matters. - Seneca quote.
It is quality rather than quantity that matters.
— Seneca
Modesty once extinguished knows not how to return. - Seneca quote.
Modesty once extinguished knows not how to return.
— Seneca
Do not ask for what you will wish you had not got. - Seneca quote.
Do not ask for what you will wish you had not got.
— Seneca
Destiny leads the willing, but drags the unwilling. - Seneca quote.
Destiny leads the willing, but drags the unwilling.
— Seneca
To know how to despise pleasure is itself a pleasure. - Seneca quote.
To know how to despise pleasure is itself a pleasure.
— Seneca
What once were vices, are now the manners of the day. - Seneca quote.
What once were vices, are now the manners of the day.

vice manners

Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power. - Seneca quote.
Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.
— Seneca
Vices creep into our hearts under the name of virtues. - Seneca quote.
Vices creep into our hearts under the name of virtues.

vice & virtue

He that does good to another does good also to himself. - Seneca quote.
He that does good to another does good also to himself.
— Seneca

helping others

We never reflect how pleasant it is to ask for nothing. - Seneca quote.
We never reflect how pleasant it is to ask for nothing.

asking

There is no great genius without some touch of madness. - Seneca quote.
There is no great genius without some touch of madness.
— Seneca

genius

When I think over what I have said, I envy dumb people. - Seneca quote.
When I think over what I have said, I envy dumb people.
— Seneca
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. - Seneca quote.
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.
— Seneca

Travel

Pleasure dies at the very moment when it charms us most. - Seneca quote.
Pleasure dies at the very moment when it charms us most.
— Seneca
Life is most delightful when it is on the downward slope. - Seneca quote.
Life is most delightful when it is on the downward slope.
— Seneca
My joy in learning is partly that it enables me to teach. - Seneca quote.
My joy in learning is partly that it enables me to teach.
— Seneca
The stomach begs and clamors, and listens to no precepts. - Seneca quote.
The stomach begs and clamors, and listens to no precepts.
— Seneca
There is no satisfaction in any good without a companion. - Seneca quote.
There is no satisfaction in any good without a companion.
— Seneca
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness. - Seneca quote.
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.
— Seneca
The vulgar bark at men of mark, as dogs bark at strangers. - Seneca quote.
The vulgar bark at men of mark, as dogs bark at strangers.
— Seneca De vita beata

envy

If you stop supporting that crowd, it will support itself. - Seneca quote.
If you stop supporting that crowd, it will support itself.
— Seneca
He who would do great things should not attempt them alone. - Seneca quote.
He who would do great things should not attempt them alone.
— Seneca
He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it. - Seneca quote.
He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.
— Seneca

morals action crime

Shut the door on the sun and you will open it to the doctor. - Seneca quote.
Shut the door on the sun and you will open it to the doctor.
— Seneca
A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach. - Seneca quote.
A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach.
— Seneca
Let us train our minds to desire what the situation demands. - Seneca quote.
Let us train our minds to desire what the situation demands.
— Seneca
A lesson that is never learned can never be too often taught. - Seneca quote.
A lesson that is never learned can never be too often taught.
— Seneca
I had rather never receive a kindness, than never bestow one. - Seneca quote.
I had rather never receive a kindness, than never bestow one.
— Seneca
Known to others all too well, they die to themselves unknown. - Seneca quote.
Known to others all too well, they die to themselves unknown.
— Seneca
Fortune dreads the brave, and is only terrible to the coward. - Seneca quote.
Fortune dreads the brave, and is only terrible to the coward.
— Seneca
He will be the slave of many masters who is his body's slave. - Seneca quote.
He will be the slave of many masters who is his body's slave.
— Seneca
The mind is never right but when it is at peace within itself. - Seneca quote.
The mind is never right but when it is at peace within itself.
— Seneca Epistles

inner peace

It better befits a man to laugh at life than to lament over it. - Seneca quote.
It better befits a man to laugh at life than to lament over it.
— Seneca
No book can be so good as to be profitable when negligently read. - Seneca quote.
No book can be so good as to be profitable when negligently read.
— Seneca
The origin of all men is the same and virtue is the only nobility. - Seneca quote.
The origin of all men is the same and virtue is the only nobility.
— Seneca
Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones. - Seneca quote.
Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.
— Seneca
Philosophy did not find Plato already a noble man, it made him one. - Seneca quote.
Philosophy did not find Plato already a noble man, it made him one.
— Seneca
If you are surprised at the number of our maladies, count our cooks. - Seneca quote.
If you are surprised at the number of our maladies, count our cooks.
— Seneca

health food

Fame does not always light at random: sometimes she chooses her man. - Seneca quote.
Fame does not always light at random: sometimes she chooses her man.
— Seneca
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca quote.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing.
— Seneca
The heart is great which shows moderation in the midst of prosperity. - Seneca quote.
The heart is great which shows moderation in the midst of prosperity.
— Seneca
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. - Seneca quote.
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.
— Seneca
If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favourable. - Seneca quote.
If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favourable.
— Seneca

goals

Wouldst thou subject all things to thyself? Subject thyself to thy reason. - Seneca quote.
Wouldst thou subject all things to thyself? Subject thyself to thy reason.
— Seneca
Take away ambition and vanity, and where will be your heroes and patriots? - Seneca quote.
Take away ambition and vanity, and where will be your heroes and patriots?
— Seneca
You can tell the character of every man when you see how he receives praise. - Seneca quote.
You can tell the character of every man when you see how he receives praise.
— Seneca
Everything that exceeds the bounds of moderation, has an unstable foundation. - Seneca quote.
Everything that exceeds the bounds of moderation, has an unstable foundation.
— Seneca
I've been mixing with humanity today and feel the less humane, in consequence. - Seneca quote.
I've been mixing with humanity today and feel the less humane, in consequence.
— Seneca
It is not the man who has too little who is poor, but the one who craves more. - Seneca quote.
It is not the man who has too little who is poor, but the one who craves more.
— Seneca

contentment wealth

We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right. - Seneca quote.
We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right.
— Seneca

adversity

He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt. - Seneca quote.
He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt.

gratitude

I do not distinguish by the eye, but by the mind, which is the proper judge of a man. - Seneca quote.
I do not distinguish by the eye, but by the mind, which is the proper judge of a man.
— Seneca
Human society is like an arch, kept from falling by the mutual pressure of its parts. - Seneca quote.
Human society is like an arch, kept from falling by the mutual pressure of its parts.
— Seneca
I would so live as if I knew that I received my being only for the benefit of others. - Seneca quote.
I would so live as if I knew that I received my being only for the benefit of others.
— Seneca
A man who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt. - Seneca quote.
A man who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt.
— Seneca
The artist finds a greater pleasure in painting than in having completed the picture. - Seneca quote.
The artist finds a greater pleasure in painting than in having completed the picture.
— Seneca
Many a man has found the acquisition of wealth only a change, not an end, of miseries. - Seneca quote.
Many a man has found the acquisition of wealth only a change, not an end, of miseries.
— Seneca
Men are but children, too, though they have gray hairs; they are only of a larger size. - Seneca quote.
Men are but children, too, though they have gray hairs; they are only of a larger size.
— Seneca
Life is like a play! It's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters. - Seneca quote.
Life is like a play! It's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters.
— Seneca
A hungry people listens not to reason, not cares for justice, nor is bent by any prayers. - Seneca quote.
A hungry people listens not to reason, not cares for justice, nor is bent by any prayers.
— Seneca

hunger

Many men might have attained to wisdom had they not assumed that they already possessed it. - Seneca quote.
Many men might have attained to wisdom had they not assumed that they already possessed it.
— Seneca
What does reason demand of a man? A very easy thing — to live in accord with his own nature. - Seneca quote.
What does reason demand of a man? A very easy thing — to live in accord with his own nature.
— Seneca
When we have provided against cold, hunger and thirst, all the rest is but vanity and excess. - Seneca quote.
When we have provided against cold, hunger and thirst, all the rest is but vanity and excess.
— Seneca

contentment

What nature requires is obtainable, and within easy reach. It is for the superfluous we sweat. - Seneca quote.
What nature requires is obtainable, and within easy reach. It is for the superfluous we sweat.
— Seneca

luxury

A quarrel is quickly settled when deserted by one party; there is no battle unless there be two. - Seneca quote.
A quarrel is quickly settled when deserted by one party; there is no battle unless there be two.
— Seneca De Ira

quarrels

Unhappy are those men, even though they rule the world, do not consider themselves supremely blest. - Seneca quote.
Unhappy are those men, even though they rule the world, do not consider themselves supremely blest.
— Seneca
Let tears flow of their own accord: their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony. - Seneca quote.
Let tears flow of their own accord: their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony.

tears

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. - Seneca quote.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.
— Seneca

religion

Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it. - Seneca quote.
Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it.
— Seneca

health

Freedom can't be bought for nothing. If you hold her precious, you must hold all else of little worth. - Seneca quote.
Freedom can't be bought for nothing. If you hold her precious, you must hold all else of little worth.
— Seneca
There is nothing in the world so much admired as a man who knows how to bear unhappiness with courage. - Seneca quote.
There is nothing in the world so much admired as a man who knows how to bear unhappiness with courage.
— Seneca
The man who does something under orders is not unhappy; he is unhappy who does something against his will. - Seneca quote.
The man who does something under orders is not unhappy; he is unhappy who does something against his will.
— Seneca

management power leadership

Ambition [may be] so frenzied that you regard yourself last in the race, if there is anyone in front of you. - Seneca quote.
Ambition [may be] so frenzied that you regard yourself last in the race, if there is anyone in front of you.
— Seneca
What nature requires (is essential) is obtainable, and within easy reach. It is for the superfluous we sweat. - Seneca quote.
What nature requires (is essential) is obtainable, and within easy reach. It is for the superfluous we sweat.
— Seneca

nature

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. - Seneca quote.
It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
— Seneca
Our fate is decreed, and things do not happen by chance, but every man's portion of joy or sorrow is predetermined. - Seneca quote.
Our fate is decreed, and things do not happen by chance, but every man's portion of joy or sorrow is predetermined.
— Seneca
Nothing is more dishonorable than an old man, heavy with years, who has no other evidence of having lived long except his age. - Seneca quote.
Nothing is more dishonorable than an old man, heavy with years, who has no other evidence of having lived long except his age.
— Seneca
Our plans miscarry because they have no aim.  When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind. - Seneca quote.
Our plans miscarry because they have no aim.  When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.

planning ambition

What must be shall be; and that which is a necessity to him that struggles, is little more than a choice to him that is willing. - Seneca quote.
What must be shall be; and that which is a necessity to him that struggles, is little more than a choice to him that is willing.
— Seneca
Power exercised with violence has seldom been of long duration, but temper and moderation generally produce permanence in all things. - Seneca quote.
Power exercised with violence has seldom been of long duration, but temper and moderation generally produce permanence in all things.
— Seneca
No man can have all he wants, but a man can refrain from wanting what he has not, and cheerfully make the best of a bird in the hand. - Seneca quote.
No man can have all he wants, but a man can refrain from wanting what he has not, and cheerfully make the best of a bird in the hand.
— Seneca Wanting
It is the bounty of nature that we live, but of philosophy, that we live well; which is, in truth, a greater benefit than life itself. - Seneca quote.
It is the bounty of nature that we live, but of philosophy, that we live well; which is, in truth, a greater benefit than life itself.
— Seneca
There is the need for someone against which our characters can measure themselves. Without a ruler, you won't make the crooked straight. - Seneca quote.
There is the need for someone against which our characters can measure themselves. Without a ruler, you won't make the crooked straight.
— Seneca
As the soil, however rich it may be, cannot be productive without culture, so the mind without cultivation can never produce good fruit. - Seneca quote.
As the soil, however rich it may be, cannot be productive without culture, so the mind without cultivation can never produce good fruit.
— Seneca
Precepts or maxims are of great weight; and a few useful ones at hand do more toward a happy life than whole volumes that we know not where to find. - Seneca quote.
Precepts or maxims are of great weight; and a few useful ones at hand do more toward a happy life than whole volumes that we know not where to find.
— Seneca
Nothing becomes so offensive so quickly as grief.  When fresh it finds someone to console it, but when it becomes chronic, it is ridiculed, and rightly. - Seneca quote.
Nothing becomes so offensive so quickly as grief.  When fresh it finds someone to console it, but when it becomes chronic, it is ridiculed, and rightly.

sorrow

Men do not care how nobly they live, but only how long, although it is within the reach of everyone to live nobly, but within no man's power to live long. - Seneca quote.
Men do not care how nobly they live, but only how long, although it is within the reach of everyone to live nobly, but within no man's power to live long.
— Seneca
The rule is, we are to give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there's no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers. - Seneca quote.
The rule is, we are to give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there's no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.

Giving

Money does all things for reward. Some are pious and honest as long as they thrive upon it, but if the devil himself gives better wages, they soon change their party. - Seneca quote.
Money does all things for reward. Some are pious and honest as long as they thrive upon it, but if the devil himself gives better wages, they soon change their party.
— Seneca
Consult your friend on all things, especially on those in which you respect yourself. Their counsel may then be useful where your own self-love might impair your judgment. - Seneca quote.
Consult your friend on all things, especially on those in which you respect yourself. Their counsel may then be useful where your own self-love might impair your judgment.
— Seneca
If you devote your time to study, you will avoid all the irksomeness of this life, nor will you long for the approach of night, being tired of the day; nor will you be a burden to yourself, nor your society insupportable to others. - Seneca quote.
If you devote your time to study, you will avoid all the irksomeness of this life, nor will you long for the approach of night, being tired of the day; nor will you be a burden to yourself, nor your society insupportable to others.
— Seneca
The greatest loss of time is delay and expectation, which depend upon the future. We let go the present, which we have in our power, and look forward to that which depends upon chance, — and so relinquish a certainty for an uncertainty. - Seneca quote.
The greatest loss of time is delay and expectation, which depend upon the future. We let go the present, which we have in our power, and look forward to that which depends upon chance, — and so relinquish a certainty for an uncertainty.
— Seneca
We can be thankful to a friend for a few acres, or a little money; and yet for the freedom and command of the whole earth, and for the great benefits of our being, our life, health, and reason, we look upon ourselves as under no obligation. - Seneca quote.
We can be thankful to a friend for a few acres, or a little money; and yet for the freedom and command of the whole earth, and for the great benefits of our being, our life, health, and reason, we look upon ourselves as under no obligation.
— Seneca
A man should not fear fortune, for a man counts not only chattels, property, and high office, but even his body, his eyes, his hands, and everything whose use makes life dearer to us, nay, even his very self, to be things whose possession is uncertain; he lives as though he had borrowed them, and is ready to return them cheerfully whenever they are claimed. - Seneca quote.
A man should not fear fortune, for a man counts not only chattels, property, and high office, but even his body, his eyes, his hands, and everything whose use makes life dearer to us, nay, even his very self, to be things whose possession is uncertain; he lives as though he had borrowed them, and is ready to return them cheerfully whenever they are claimed.
— Seneca
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.
— Seneca
Life is like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters.

excellence life

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
— Seneca

risk-taking