“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”
“It’s not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.”
“All cruelty springs from weakness.”
“Difficulties strengthen the mind as labor does the body.”
“A man is as unhappy as he has convinced himself he is.”
“Being poor is not having too little, it is wanting more.”
“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”
“No man is more unhappy than he who has never faced adversities.”
“It is better to conquer grief than to deceive it.”
“Life is very short for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.”
“He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a man who is alive.”
“He who is everywhere is nowhere.”
“As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”
“You can tell the character of every man when you see how he gives and receives praise.”
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”
“Whatever can happen at any time can also happen today.”
“It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it.”
“Excellence withers without an adversary.”
“The most powerful man is he who has himself in his own power.”
“How do I know that I’m making progress? Because I have begun to be a friend to myself.”
About Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Lucius Annaeus Seneca (also known as Seneca the Younger) was a Roman philosopher, statesman, and playwright who lived from 4 BC to 65 AD. He was a key figure in the development of Stoicism, a philosophical movement that emphasized the importance of living in accordance with reason and virtue.
Seneca was born into a wealthy family in Corduba, Spain. His father was a wealthy Roman senator and his mother was a wealthy landowner. Seneca was well-educated and excelled in his studies of philosophy, literature, and rhetoric. He was also an accomplished orator and writer, and his works were widely read and admired.
Seneca’s political career began in Rome, where he served as a consul and advisor to Emperor Claudius. He was also a mentor to Emperor Nero, but the relationship between the two men eventually soured and Seneca was forced to retire from public life. He spent the last years of his life in retirement, writing and studying philosophy.
Seneca’s philosophy was heavily influenced by Stoicism, a school of thought that originated in ancient Greece. The Stoics believed that the world was governed by a rational and benevolent force, and that people should strive to live in accordance with reason and virtue. They also believed that true happiness could only be achieved by living a life of virtue and wisdom.
Seneca was one of the most influential Stoic philosophers of his time. His writings, including his letters and essays, have been widely read and studied for centuries. In his works, Seneca emphasized the importance of living in accordance with reason and virtue, and he argued that people should focus on what they can control in their lives, rather than worrying about things that are beyond their control.
Seneca’s philosophy has had a lasting impact on Western thought. His ideas about living in accordance with reason and virtue have been embraced by many philosophers and writers, and his writings continue to be read and studied by people interested in Stoicism and philosophy.