Marcus Annaeus Seneca, called Seneca the Elder (c.55 BCE–c.40 CE,) was a Roman rhetorician. He was the father of the philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Seneca the Younger) and grandfather of the poet Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus).
Seneca the Elder was born to a family of equestrian status in Corduba, now Cordoba, Spain, and educated at Rome.
In addition to a history of Rome from the civil wars to his own day, which is now lost, Seneca wrote for his sons the Latin work on declamation (a form of rhetorical exercise,) the Oratorum sententiae divisiones colores (“Sentences, Divisions, and Colors of the Orators and Rhetoricians.”) Originally comprised as ten books devoted to contrōversiae (debate) and at least two devoted to suāsōriae (declamation,) Oratorum sententiae divisiones colores contains prominent and epigrammatic extracts from various speakers. Each excerpt is followed by an analysis of the heads of the arguments and by remarks on lines of approach to the case.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
Let us live—we must die.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
The whole world would have been destroyed if compassion did not put an end to anger.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
Some laws are not written, but are more decisive than any written law.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
All art is but imitation of nature.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Art
Of a great spirit is moderation in prosperity.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
It is wrong not to give a hand to the fallen; this law is universal to the whole human race.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
A small debt makes a man your debtor, a large one makes him your enemy.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Debt, Enemies
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