Seneca
Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman (c. 1 BCE to 65 CE); born in Corduba; adviser to Nero from 54; author of the Moral Letters to Lucilius.
Seneca did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Their wordsYou need a change of soul rather than a change of climate.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 28 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org
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Our reading
Their wordsNothing, Lucilius, is ours, except time.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 1 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org
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Our reading
Keep company with people who will improve you, and with those you can improve; both sides learn
Their wordsAssociate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself can improve. The process is mutual; for men learn while they teach.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 7 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org
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Their wordsBut this is the kernel of my advice: Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your betters.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 47 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org
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Our reading
Philosophy shapes the soul and guides conduct, showing what to do and what to leave undone
Their wordsIt moulds and constructs the soul; it orders our life, guides our conduct, shows us what we should do and what we should leave undone; it sits at the helm and directs our course as we waver amid uncertainties.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 16 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org
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Our reading
Being everywhere means being nowhere; constant travel brings many acquaintances but no friends
Their wordsEverywhere means nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 2 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org 1st of 2 in this piece
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Their wordsThere are more things, Lucilius, likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 13 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org
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Their wordsIndeed, if it be contented, it is not poverty at all. It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 2 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org 2nd of 2 in this piece
The line under a date fills as the words age, a quarter at a time: past a month, six months, a year, and three years. Empty means said within the last month; full, more than three years ago. It says when, not whether it still holds — a change of mind is marked on the claim itself.
Dashed means we only know the words existed by that date; they may be older.