Seneca
Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman and playwright, c. 4 BC-65 AD
100 quotes.
Quotes by Seneca
- A brave spirit struggling with adversity is a spectacle for the gods.
- A favour does not consist in the service done, but in the spirit of the man who confers it.
- A great fortune is a great servitude.
- A large library is apt to distract rather than to instruct the learner; it is much better to be confined to a few authors than to wander at random over many.
- A man afraid of death will never play the part of a live man.
- A man's as miserable as he thinks he is.
- A thing is never too often repeated which is never sufficiently learned.
- A well-governed appetite is a great part of liberty.
- A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.
- Accustom yourself to that which you bear ill, and you will bear it well.
- All cruelty springs from weakness.
- Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.
- As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
- As long as you live, keep learning how to live.
- As our acts and our thoughts are, so will our lives be.
- As the soil, however rich it may be, cannot be productive without culture, so the mind without cultivation can never produce good fruit.
- Associate with those who will make a better man of you.
- Constant misfortune brings this one blessing: to whom it always assails, it eventually fortifies.
- Difficulties strengthen the mind, as well as labor does the body.
- Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.
- Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.
- Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.
- Gratitude returns in large measure unto itself.
- Growth is slow but collapse is rapid.
- He is a great man who uses earthenware dishes as if they were silver; but he is equally great who uses silver as if it were earthenware.
- He that does good to another does good also to himself, not only in the consequence, but in the very act; for the consciousness of well-doing is in itself ample reward.
- He who does good to others makes the biggest gift to himself.
- He who has injured thee was either stronger or weaker; if weaker, spare him; if stronger, spare thyself.
- He who indulges in empty fears earns himself real fears.
- He who is brave is free.
- He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt.
- Hold every hour in your grasp.
- I am endeavouring to live every day as if it were a complete life.
- I do not regard a man as poor, if the little which remains is enough for him.
- 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.
- I will do nothing because of public opinion, but everything because of conscience.
- I would rather offend you with the truth than please you with flattery.
- If a man does not know to what port he is steering, no wind is favourable to him.
- If I only have the will to be grateful, I am so.
- If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.