Seneca the Younger Quotes

All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.

A prince must, above all things, accustom himself to moderate his desires. For as he has the power of gratifying them, if he once gives way to them, he will run to the greatest excess, and, by destroying his subjects, will at last complete his own ruin. In order to form himself to this moderation, nothing is more proper, than to accustom himself to patience. This is the most necessary of all virtues for those, who are to command. A man must be patient to become master of himself and others.

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

I have to reign myself in a lot.

I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.

A person in my position has to restrain himself.

The surest test of discipline is its absence.

Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion.

I wasn't blessed with the natural ability to rein myself in.

Self-command is the main elegance.

It is with our passions as it is with fire and water, they are good servants, but bad masters.

It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.

Anyone who seeks to destroy the passions instead of controlling them is trying to play the angel.

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

Character is the impulse reined down into steady continuance.

Patience means restraining one's inclinations.

I need to rein myself in sometimes.

I am pretty controlled I have to say.

It is in self-limitation that a master first shows himself.

Only actions give life strength; only moderation gives it charm.

Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.

If you want to control other people, first control yourself.

They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.

Instinct must be thwarted just as one prunes the branches of a tree so that it will grow better.

A well-governed appetite is the greater part of liberty.