Seneca the Younger
Often known simply as Seneca, or Seneca the Younger, was a Roman philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and humorist.
Shun no toil to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other; yet do not devote yourself to one branch exclusively. Strive to get clear notions about all. Give up no science entirely; for science is but one.
Seneca's virtue shows forth so live and vigorous in his writings, and the defense is so clear there against some of these imputations, as that of his wealth and excessive spending, that I would not believe any testimony to the contrary.
Is qui scit plurimum, rumor.
mens regnum bona possidet.
Time discovers truth. (translator unknown).
The spirit in which a thing is given determines that in which the debt is acknowledged; it's the intention, not the face-value of the gift, that's weighed. (translator unknown).
quid est sapienta? semper idem velle atque idem nolle.
Oculis de homine non credo, habeo melius et certius lumen quo a falsis uera diiudicem: animi bonum animus inueniat.
inveniet viam aut faciet.
Unjust dominion cannot be eternal. (translator unknown)
errant consilia nostra, quia non habent quo derigantur; ignoranti quem portum petat nullus suus ventus est.
Nam qui peccare se nescit, corrigi non vult.
All cruelty springs from weakness. (translator unknown)
Qui non vetat peccare cum possit, iubet.
qui genus iactat suum, aliena laudat.
Mors dolorum omnium exsolutio est et finis ultra quem mala nostra non exeunt, quae nos in illam tranquillitatem in qua antequam nasceremur iacuimus reponit. Si mortuorum aliquis miseretur, et non natorum misereatur. Mors nec bonum nec malum est; id enim potest aut bonum aut malum esse quod aliquid est; quod uero ipsum nihil est et omnia in nihilum redigit, nulli nos fortunae tradit. Mala enim bonaque circa aliquam uersantur materiam: non potest id fortuna tenere quod natura dimisit, nec potest miser esse qui nullus est.
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember. (translator unknown).
Iniqua nunquam regna perpetuo manent.
If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable. (translator unknown).
Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men. (translator unknown).