Marcus Annaeus Lucanus: Quotes about life

“You have taken from me the one privilege of civil war – the power of granting life to the defeated.”
Unica belli praemia civilis, victis donare salutem, perdidimus.

“More was lost there than mere life and existence: we were overthrown for all time to come.”
Plus est quam vita salusque quod perit: in totum mundi prosternimur aevum.

“Learn what life requires,
How little nature needs!”
Discite, quam parvo liceat producere vitam, Et quantum natura petat.

“When the existence and safety of so many nations depend upon your single life, and so large a part of the world has chosen you for its head, it is cruel of you to court death.”
Cum tot in hac anima populorum vita salusque pendeat et tantus caput hoc sibi fecerit orbis, saevitia est voluisse mori.

“No life is short that gives a man time to slay himself.”
Vita brevis nulli superest qui tempus in illa quaerendae sibi mortis habet.

“Such was the character, such the inflexible rule of austere Cato – to observe moderation and hold fast to the limit, to follow nature, to give his life for his country, to believe that he was born to serve the whole world and not himself.”
Hi mores, haec duri inmota Catonis secta fuit, servare modum finemque tenere naturamque sequi patriaeque inpendere vitam nec sibi sed toti genitum se credere mundo.