Seneca the Younger Quotes

One of the most destructive anti-concepts in the history of moral philosophy is the term 'duty.

The worst sin... is... to be indifferent.

He [man] knows that when he is not what he ought to be; when he does what he ought not to do; or omits what he ought to do, he is chargeable with sin

It is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support. If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man's shoulders.

A man does not sin by commission only, but often by omission.

Nothing is left for us except the boycott .... this is not merely counsel, but a positive command binding all in conscience under the pain of sin.

Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.

The worst people on earth are not only those who commit evil, but those who stand by and turn a blind eye

Men must be either the slaves of duty, or the slaves of force.

If a sense of duty tortures a man, it also enables him to achieve prodigies.

An action, to have moral worth, must be done from duty.

Nor did demons crucify Him; it is you who have crucified Him and crucify Him still, when you delight in your vices and sins.

You either fight active evil or you accept it. Doing nothing is acceptance. There is no in-between.

Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility with regard to everything that has life.

Obligation may be stretched till it is no better than a brand of slavery stamped on us when we were too young to know its meaning.

One expects decent people to stand up for the good of all. Decent people shut their doors and hide behind them as decent people do. Massacres could never happen if it weren't for decent people.

Moral obligation is to me so very strong a Stimulant, that in 9 cases out of ten it acts as a Narcotic. The Blow that should rouse, stuns me.

Duty does not consist in suffering everything, but in suffering everything for duty. Sometimes, indeed, it is our duty not to suffer.

To kill sin is the work of living men; where men are dead (as all unbelievers, the best of them, are dead), sin is alive, and will live.

Fear guides more to their duty than gratitude; for one man who is virtuous from the love of virtue, from the obligation he thinks he lies under to the Giver of all, there are ten thousand who are good only from their apprehension of punishment.

Stern daughter of the voice of God! O Duty! if that name thou love Who art a light to guide, a rod To check the erring and reprove.

Because he KNEW he was doing wrong. He felt the PAIN of his actions'-- 'But he did not amen them,' shows the Sky. 'The rest are worth as much as their pack animals,' I show, 'but worst is the one who knows better and does NOTHING.

For duty, duty must be done; The rule applies to everyone.

Sin comes when communication lines are down - it always does, sooner or later.