Real joy, believe me, is a stern matter.
The letter is headed “On the true joy which comes from philosophy”. Seneca argues that one cannot meet death or poverty with a carefree face, and that the deepest cheerfulness has to be earned.
If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to opinion, you will never be rich.
If you would not have a man flinch when the crisis comes, train him before it comes.
Our lack of confidence is not the result of difficulty; the difficulty comes from our lack of confidence.
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, / The Man’s the gowd for a’ that.