Seneca's Letters from a Stoic

by Seneca

Most men ebb and flow in wretchedness between the fear of death and the hardships of life; they are unwilling to live, and yet they do not know how to die.

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

sometimes individuals equipped with power by the people and against the people.

And as long as nothing satisfies you, you yourself cannot satisfy others.

The deep flood of time will roll over us; some few great men will raise their heads above it, and, though destined at the last to depart into the same realms of silence, will battle against oblivion and maintain their ground for long.

The sunlight called to me, hunger warned, and clouds were lowering; but I absorbed the book from beginning to end.

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

the body is beautified by the comeliness of the soul.

The executioner is upon you; wait for him. Why anticipate him? Why assume the management of a cruel task that belongs to another?

greed, ambition, and the fear of death that has conquered the conquerors of the world.

Will you not understand that no man should be tormented by the future?

I respect no study, and deem no study good, which results in money-making.

For just as I know that all things can happen, so I know, too, that they will not happen in every case. I am ready for favourable events in every case, but I am prepared for evil.

For over-analysis is faulty in precisely the same way as no analysis at all; whatever you cut so fine that it becomes dust is as good as blended into a mass again.

just because you offer objections I shall keep on talking.

Therefore, with regard to the body I shall return the same answer to you, – that, if I have the choice, I shall choose health and strength, but that the good involved will be my judgment regarding these things, and not the things themselves.

Death visits each and all; the slayer soon follows the slain.

one can be helped by a great man even when he is silent. 41. I could not easily tell you how it helps us, though I am certain of the fact that I have received help in that way.