Seneca the Younger Quotes

What is the essence of kingship? [It is] to rule oneself well, and not be led astray by wealth or fame.

Who then is free? The wise who can command his passions, who fears not want, nor death, nor chains, firmly resisting his appetites and despising the honors of the world, who relies wholly on himself, whose angular points of character have all been rounded off and polished.

The most virtuous are those who content themselves with being virtuous without seeking to appear so.

How can I govern others, who can't even govern myself?

One ought to hold on to one's heart; for if one lets it go, one soon loses control of the head too.

Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.

We men are easily prone to sins of thought. Therefore, He who has formed each heart individually, knowing that the impulse received from the intention constitutes the major element in sin, has ordained that purity in the ruling part of our soul be our primary concern.

He hath freedom whoso beareth clean and constant heart within.

Courage is knowing what not to fear.

My greatest fear has always been that I would be afraid - afraid physically or mentally or morally and allow myself to be influenced by fear instead of by my honest convictions.

I don't think I'm naturally a good person. I think some people have an innate goodness to them, and I am sort of proud of the fact that I kind of keep myself in check, probably because I have awesome parents.

Subdue your heart to match your circumstances.

In the supremacy of self-control consists one of the perfections of the ideal man.

It's only when a man tames his own demons that he becomes the king of himself if not of the world.

Determination means to use every challenge you meet as an opportunity to open your heart and soften, determined to not withdraw.

He who fears to venture as far as his heart urges and his reason permits, is a coward; he who ventures further than he intended to go, is a slave.

I will always have fears, but I need not be my fears, for I have other places within myself from which to speak and act.

As our heart summons our strength, our wisdom must direct it.

This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai: if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. his whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.

I knew that my heart and mind would always be tempted to feel anger--to find blame and hate. But I resolved that when the negative feelings came upon me, I wouldn't wait for them to grow or fester. I would always turn immediately to the Source of all true power: I would turn to God and let His love and forgiveness protect and save me.

Your mind must control, but you must have heart . . . . Give your feeling free.

Do not say that you have chaste minds if you have unchaste eyes, because an unchaste eye is the messenger of an unchaste heart.

You cannot tempt the hearts of men who are pure.

The more meditation goes deep, the more you will become master of your own thoughts. You will say, "Stop!" and the mind stops. You will say, "Move!" and the mind begins to move. Once this capacity comes to you, you will not fall down again. Unless this is achieved, if you discontinue meditation, soon every result will be washed away.

Roza, my self-control is ten times stronger than yours." I opened my eyes, shifting to look into his. I brushed his hair back and smiled, certain my heart would expand and expand until there was nothing left of me. "Oh yeah? That's not the impression I just got." "Wait until next time," he warned. "I'll do things that'll make you lose control within seconds.