Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (Roman Stoic Philosopher)

Lūcius Annaeus Seneca, called Seneca the Younger (c.4 BCE–65 CE) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, orator, and tragedian. As Rome’s foremost intellectual figure in the mid-1st century CE, and as “prime minister,” Seneca was the virtual ruler of the Roman Empire 54–62 CE, during the initial chapter of the Emperor Nero’s reign.

Born to a provincial equestrian family in Corduba, now Cordoba, Spain, Seneca was the son of rhetorician Marcus Annaeus Seneca, called Seneca the Elder.

Seneca the Younger began a career in politics and law in Rome in 31 CE. However, he was banished to Corsica (41–49 CE) by Emperor Claudius on an accusation of adultery with Claudius’s niece Julia Livilla, and there Seneca wrote the three treatises, Consolation.

Recalled to Rome in 49 CE through the influence of Empress Agrippina the Younger, Seneca became the tutor to her son, the future Emperor Nero. Seneca enjoyed substantial political influence for a while and was made consul by Nero in 57 CE, but he later withdrew from public life and devoted himself to writing and philosophy. In 65 CE, Seneca was implicated in the conspiracy of Pisa to kill Nero and ordered to commit suicide.

Seneca’s writings include Epistulae morales ad Lucilium (64 CE,) a collection of 124 letters dealing with moral issues written to Lucilius Junior, and Apocolocyntosis (divi) Claudii (64 CE; ‘The Pumpkinification of the Divine Claudius,’) a scathing satire.

Seneca’s extant works comprise ten ethical treatises: On Providence (64 CE,) On the Constancy of the Wise Man (55 CE,) On Anger (in three books, 41 CE,) To Marcia, on Consolation (40 CE,) On the Happy Life (58 CE,) On Leisure (62 CE,) On Tranquility of Mind (63 CE,) On the Brevity of Life (49 CE,) To Polybius, on Consolation (44 CE,) and To Helvia, on Consolation (42 CE.)

Seneca’s rhetorical type of tragedy had extensive influence in the Italian and French Renaissance. In Elizabethan England, adaptations of Seneca’s Tenne Tragedies and his terse and epigrammatic literary style inspired the language and psychology of Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare, and Ben Jonson.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)

I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Quotations

Power exercised with violence has seldom been of long duration, but temper and moderation generally produce permanence in all things.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Government, Oppression

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Writers, Authors & Writing

We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired? Our vices will abate of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Being True to Yourself, Doing Your Best, Life

When some state or other offered Alexander a part of its territory and half of all its property he told them that he hadn’t come to Asia with the intention of accepting whatever they cared to give him, but of letting them keep whatever he chose to leave them.’ Philosophy, likewise, tells all other occupations: It’s not my intention to accept whatever time is leftover from you; you shall have, instead, what I reject.’ Give your whole mind to her.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Wise, Wisdom

That which is given with pride and ostentation is rather an ambition than a bounty.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Vanity, Gifts

We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Giving, Gifts, Charity

A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Suffering

How much better to pursue a straight course and eventually reach that destination where the things that are pleasant are the things that are honorable finally become, for you, the same.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Habit, Honor, Action

No man will swim ashore and take his baggage with him.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Concentration, Focus

However degraded or wretched a fellow mortal may be, he is still a member of our common species.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Humanity

Resistance to oppression is second nature.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Oppression

Drunkenness is nothing but a self-induced state of insanity.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Alcohol, Society, Madness, Energy, Alcoholism

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: One liners, Preparation, Opportunity, Luck

It is the edge and temper of the blade that make a good sword, not the richness of the scabbard; and so it is not money or possessions that make man considerable, but his virtue.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Virtue

All art is an imitation of nature.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Art, Nature, Arts, Artists

Unhappy is the man, though he rule the world, who doesn’t consider himself supremely blessed.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Happiness, Blessings

Retirement without the love of letters is a living burial.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Retirement

The road to learning by precept is long, but by example short and effective.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Example

Not to return one good office for another is inhuman; but to return evil for good is diabolical. There are too many even of this sort, who, the more they owe, the more they hate.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Evils, Ingratitude

Death is a punishment to some, to some a gift, and to many a favor.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Dying, Death

The mind should be allowed some relaxation, that it may return to its work all the better for the rest.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)

The pleasures of the palate deal with us like the Egyptian thieves, who strangle those whom they embrace.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Diet

He is most powerful who has power over himself.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Power

The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man. It is more powerful than external circumstances.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Opposition, Adversity, Bravery, Courage

Sadness usually results from one of the following causes either when a man does not succeed, or is ashamed of his success.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Sadness

I never come back home with the same moral character I went out with; something or other becomes unsettled where I had achieved internal peace; some one or other of the things I had put to flight reappears on the scene.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Morality, Morals

Revenge is an inhuman word.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Revenge

There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Topics: Gratitude

We are but stewards of what we falsely call our own; yet avarice is so insatiable that it is not in the power of abundance to content it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *