Seneca

Seneca

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

c. 4 BCE-65 CE • Roman

Stoicism

Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and playwright. His letters to Lucilius offer practical wisdom for living well.

Key Works

  • Letters from a Stoic
  • On the Shortness of Life
  • Essays
107

quotes in library

Quotes by Seneca

107 quotes
“Begin to live and count each separate day as a separate life.”
presenceLetters 101
“He alone is wise who knows the use of his time.”
wisdomLetters 1
“What is the master of life? Death well prepared for.”
deathLetters 26
“He who fears death will never do anything truly free.”
freedomLetters 26
“As is each day, so is the whole of life.”
presenceOn Tranquility of Mind
“All cruelty springs from weakness.”
compassionOn Anger 1.16
“Anger is, as Aristotle defined it, an impulse, accompanied by pain, to a conspicuous revenge for a conspicuous slight.”
angerOn Anger 1.3
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”
patienceOn Anger 2.29
“He who has learnt how to die has learnt how to be a slave no more.”
freedomLetters 26
“To live under constraint is a misfortune; but there is no constraint to live under constraint.”
freedomLetters 12
“What is shameful to learn? Nothing — but everything is shameful not to learn.”
learningLetters 76
“Sometimes you must give up the dignity of the man and act like the dog.”
playOn Tranquility 17
“It is foolish to plan in life, when you have no plan in dying.”
completionLetters 70
“Make haste, then, my dear Lucilius, and reflect: how greatly thou hast bettered thyself in the time given thee.”
reflectionLetters 4
“What is needed to be happy? Live in accordance with nature.”
happinessLetters 41
“He bears with thee, watches thee, neither greater nor stronger than thee — for thou art akin to him.”
unityLetters 41
“Do not say, 'I have done this for years' — start over today.”
renewalLetters 4
“He who is wise will become like the gods, free of want and free of fear.”
wisdomLetters 31
“He who lives by hope dies by anxiety.”
presenceLetters 5
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