Quotes from work
Hercules Furens

Seneca the Younger Original title Hercules furens (Latin)

Hercules or Hercules furens is a fabula crepidata of c. 1344 lines of verse written by Lucius Annaeus Seneca.


Seneca the Younger photo

“Unrighteous fortune seldom spares the highest worth; no one with safety can long front so frequent perils. Whom calamity oft passes by she finds at last.”
Iniqua raro maximis virtutibus fortuna parcit ; nemo se tuto diu periculis offerre tam crebris potest ; quem saepe transit casus, aliquando invenit.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), lines 325-328; (Megara).
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Arms observe no bounds; nor can the wrath of the sword, once drawn, be easily checked or stayed; war delights in blood.”
arma non servant modum; nec temperari facile nec reprimi potest stricti ensis ira; bella delectat cruor.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), lines 403-405; (Lycus).
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Once again prosperous and successful crime goes by the name of virtue; good men obey the bad, might is right and fear oppresses law.”
rursus prosperum ac felix scelus virtus vocatur; sontibus parent boni, ius est in armis, opprimit leges timor.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), lines 251-253; (Amphitryon)
Alternate translation: Successful and fortunate crime is called virtue. (translator unknown)
Alternate translation: Might makes right. (translator unknown).
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Who can be forced has not learned how to die.”
Cogi qui potest nescit mori.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), line 426; (Megara).
Alternate translation: Who can be compelled does not know how to die.
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Who vaunts his race, lauds what belongs to others.”
qui genus iactat suum, aliena laudat.

Alternate translation: He who boasts of his descent, praises the deeds of another (translator unknown).
Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), lines 340-341; (Lycus).
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Tis the first art of kings, the power to suffer hate.”
ars prima regni est posse invidiam pati.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), lines 353; (Lycus)
Alternate translation: To be able to endure odium is the first art to be learned by those who aspire to power (translator unknown).
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Of war men ask the outcome, not the cause.”
quaeritur belli exitus, non causa.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), line 407; (Lycus).
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Things ’twas hard to bear ’tis pleasant to recall.”
quae fuit durum pati, meminisse dulce est.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), lines 656-657; (Amphitryon)
Alternate translation: Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember. (translator unknown).
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“He [Hercules] will find a way — or make one.”
inveniet viam aut faciet.

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), line 276; (Amphitryon)
In this line, Seneca adapts a well-known saying "Inveniam viam aut faciam" (commonly attributed to the Carthaginian general Hannibal) for use in his drama
Tragedies

Seneca the Younger photo

“Do you seek Alcides' equal? None is, except himself.”

Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), line 84.
Tragedies

Similar authors

Seneca the Younger photo
Seneca the Younger 225
Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist -4–65 BC
Marcus Tullius Cicero photo
Marcus Tullius Cicero 180
Roman philosopher and statesman
Zeno of Citium photo
Zeno of Citium 9
ancient Greek philosopher
Marcus Aurelius photo
Marcus Aurelius 400
Emperor of Ancient Rome
Julius Caesar photo
Julius Caesar 18
Roman politician and general
Epictetus photo
Epictetus 175
philosopher from Ancient Greece
Galén photo
Galén 11
Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher
Ennius photo
Ennius 23
Roman writer
Tacitus photo
Tacitus 42
Roman senator and historian
Pliny the Elder photo
Pliny the Elder 31
Roman military commander and writer