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Seneca the Younger Quotes
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Seneca The Younger Quotes: 225 Quotes on War, Virtue, Wealth, Ruling, Friendship, and More for Timeless Wisdom

Explore the profound quotes of Seneca the Younger on war, virtue, wealth, ruling, friendship, hope, despair, preparation, life, and death for timeless wisdom that will enlighten and inspire.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, commonly known as Seneca, was a prominent Stoic philosopher and statesman in Ancient Rome. Born in Córdoba, Spain, he was raised in Rome and received training in rhetoric and philosophy. Seneca's father was Seneca the Elder, and he had influential relatives including his brother Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus and his nephew, the poet Lucan.

In AD 41, Seneca was exiled to Corsica under Emperor Claudius but returned eight years later to become a tutor to a young Nero. When Nero ascended to the throne in 54, Seneca became his advisor along with Praetorian prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, effectively governing during the first five years of Nero's reign. However, Seneca's influence waned over time. In 65, he tragically took his own life amidst allegations of involvement in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero—an event for which he was likely innocent. His serene suicide has been depicted in numerous paintings.

Seneca is renowned for both his philosophical works and tragedies as a writer. He authored 12 essays and 124 letters that tackled moral issues—making them crucial texts on ancient Stoicism today. As a playwright specializing in tragic dramas, important contributions include plays like "Medea," "Thyestes," and "Phaedra." Throughout history, Seneca's influence endured; during the Renaissance period, he was reverently admired as an oracle of moral wisdom with significant impact on literary style and dramatic artistry—while also serving as a model for Christian edification.

✵ 4 BC – 12. April 65 AC   •   Other names Seneca mladší, Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Seneca der Jüngere), Lucius Annaues Seneca, Луций Анней Сенека
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Seneca the Younger: 225   quotes 24   likes

Seneca the Younger Quotes

“It was a great deed to conquer Carthage, but a greater deed to conquer death.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXIV: On despising death

Death

“Mucius put his hand into the fire. It is painful to be burned; but how much more painful to inflict such suffering upon oneself!”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXIV: On despising death

Pain , Suffering

“Armies have endured all manner of want, have lived on roots, and have resisted hunger by means of food too revolting to mention. All this they have suffered to gain a kingdom, and—what is more marvellous—to gain a kingdom that will be another’s. Will any man hesitate to endure poverty, in order that he may free his mind from madness?”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XVII: On Philosophy and Riches

Hunger , Madness , Suffering , Food

“There is no reason why poverty should call us away from philosophy—no, nor even actual want. For when hastening after wisdom, we must endure even hunger. Men have endured hunger when their towns were besieged, and what other reward for their endurance did they obtain than that they did not fall under the conqueror’s power? How much greater is the promise of the prize of everlasting liberty, and the assurance that we need fear neither God nor man! Even though we starve, we must reach that goal.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XVII: On Philosophy and Riches

Hunger , God , Fear , Wisdom

“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many because they are unlike you.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter VII: On crowds

Bad luck , Hate

“What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

That was indeed agreat benefit; such a person can never be alone. You may be sure that such a man is a friend to all mankind.
Seneca is quoting Hecato.
Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter VI: On precepts and exemplars

“I commend you and rejoice in the fact that you are persistent in your studies, and that, putting all else aside, you make it each day your endeavour to become a better man.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter V: On the Philosopher’s Mean

Study , Making love

“No man has ever been so far advanced by Fortune that she did not threaten him as greatly as she had previously indulged him.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter IV: On the terrors of death

“The primary indication, to my thinking, of a well-ordered mind is a man’s ability to remain in one place and linger in his own company.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter II: On discursiveness in reading

Thinking

“This spirit thrusts itself forward, confident of commendation and esteem. It is superior to all, monarch of all it surveys; hence it should be subservient to nothing, finding no task too heavy, and nothing strong enough to weigh down the shoulders of a man.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter CIV: On Care of Health and Peace of Mind

Strong , Confidence , Self-confidence

“Then it is that the height of unhappiness is reached, when men are not only attracted, but even pleased, by shameful things, and when there is no longer any room for a cure, now that those things which once were vices have become habits.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXXIX: On Noble Aspirations

Men

“Whoever complains about the death of anyone, is complaining that he was a man. Everyone is bound by the same terms: he who is privileged to be born, is destined to die.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XCVIX: On Consolation to the Bereaved

Death

“No man was ever wise by chance.”

Seneca the Younger
Chance

“The conditions of conquest are always easy. We have but to toil awhile, endure awhile, believe always, and never turn back.”

Seneca the Younger

“The wise man is joyful, happy and calm, unshaken, he lives on a plane with the gods.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LIX: On Pleasure and Joy

God , Happiness

“Would not anyone who is a man have his slumbers broken by a war-trumpet rather than by a chorus of serenaders?”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LI: On Baiae and Morals

War

“Marcet sine adversario virtus.”

Seneca the Younger book De Providentia

Valor withers without adversity.
De Providentia (On Providence), 2.4
Moral Essays

“Besides, he who is feared, fears also; no one has been able to arouse terror and live in peace of mind.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter CV: On Facing the World With Confidence

Peace , Fear

“Socrates is reported to have replied, when a certain person complained of having received no benefit from his travels: “It serves you right! You travelled in your own company!””

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter CIV: On Care of Health and Peace of Mind

Personality , Travel

“The point is, not how long you live, but how nobly you live. And often this living nobly means that you cannot live long.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter CI: On the Futility of Planning Ahead

“But how foolish it is to set out one’s life, when one is not even owner of the morrow!”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter CI: On the Futility of Planning Ahead

Life

“All the Good of mortals is mortal.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XCVIII: On the Fickleness of Fortune

“As our acts and our thoughts are, so will our lives be.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XCV: On the usefulness of basic principles

“Is it for this purpose that we are strong—that we may have light burdens to bear?”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXXVIII: On the Healing Power of the Mind

Light , Strong

“Pain he endures, death he awaits.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XCVIII: On the Fickleness of Fortune

Pain , Death

“So near at hand is freedom, and is anyone still a slave?”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXXVII: On Taking One’s Own Life

Freedom

“But the wise man knows that all things are in store for him. Whatever happens, he says: “I knew it.””

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXXVI: On Learning Wisdom in Old Age

“He knows his own strength; he knows that he was born to carry burdens.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXXI: On the supreme good

“Whatever can happen at any time can happen today.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXIII

Time

“Fortune has taken away, but Fortune has given.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXIII

“That which Fortune has not given, she cannot take away.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LIX: On Pleasure and Joy

“There is no sorrow in the world, when we have escaped from the fear of death.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXXVIII: On the Healing Power of the Mind

World , Fear , Death

“Let us greedily enjoy our friends, because we do not know how long this privilege will be ours.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXIII

“I am endeavouring to live every day as if it were a complete life.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LXI: On meeting death cheerfully

Life

“We are weak, watery beings standing in the midst of unrealities; therefore let us turn our minds to the things that are everlasting.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LVIII: On Being

“Our luxuries have condemned us to weakness; we have ceased to be able to do that which we have long declined to do.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LV: On Vatia’s Villa

“And what is freedom, you ask? It means not being a slave to any circumstance, to any constraint, to any chance; it means compelling Fortune to enter the lists on equal terms.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter LI: On Baiae and Morals

Chance , Freedom

“No man ought to glory except in that which is his own.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XLI: On the god within us

“It is the quality of a great soul to scorn great things and to prefer that which is ordinary rather than that which is too great.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXXIX: On Noble Aspirations

Soul

“It is disgraceful, instead of proceeding ahead, to be carried along, and then suddenly, amid the whirlpool of events, to ask in a dazed way: “How did I get into this condition?””

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXXVII: On Allegiance to Virtue

Way

“He who does not wish to die cannot have wished to live.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXX: On conquering the conqueror

“You need a change of soul rather than a change of climate.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXVIII: On travel as a cure for discontent

Soul , Change

“[Mucius] might have accomplished something more successful in that camp, but never anything more brave.”

Seneca the Younger book Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XXIV: On despising death

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