Quotes from book
Epistulae morales ad Lucilium

Seneca the Younger
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“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.”

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

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“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

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“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.”

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

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“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.”

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

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“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

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“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

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“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

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

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

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

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

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“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

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“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

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“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

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“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

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

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

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

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

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“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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“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