Fortune. Wisdom. Centum doctum hominum consilia sola haec devincit dea Fortuna. "This goddess, Fortune, single-handed overrules the counsels of a hundred learned men." Certainty. Uncertainty. Certa amittimus, dum incerta petimus. "We lose what is sure, while seeking for that which is uncertain." Caution. Variety of Resources. Cogitato, mus pusillus quam sit sapiens bestia, "Consider how sagacious an animal is the little mouse; for it never trusts its safety to a single hole." Disarm the Ignorant and Vicious. Eripite isti gladium, qui sui est impos animi. "Take away the sword from him who lacks in sense." Sharp tools should only be used by those who understand their use. Slander. Homines qui gestant, quique auscultant crimina, Gestores linguis, auditores auribus. "Those men who carry slander, and those who listen to it, would all be hung, if I were to be consulted: the carriers, by their tongues; the listeners, by their ears." Commencement. Accomplishment. Incipere multo est, quam impetrare, facilius. "It is far easier to commence an undertaking than to complete it." K Rule of Trade. Merit. Invendibili merci oportet ultro emptorem abducere, Proba merx facile emptorem reperit, tametsi in obstruso sit. "For unsalable goods, it is necessary to entice a purchaser: good wares will find a buyer, although in concealment." Good Manners. Dress. Lepidi mores turpem ornatum facile factis comprobant. “Good manners easily exalt an humble garb.” Nequam hominis ego parvipendo gratiam. "I place small value on the esteem of a worthless man.” Wisdom. Education. Disposition. Non aetate verum ingenio adipiscitur sapientia. "Wisdom is acquired not by years, but by disposition.” Honor at Home. Character. Nunquam erit alienis gravis, qui suis se concinnat levem. "He will never be despised abroad who makes himself respected at home." Morals. Defense. Si incolae bene sunt morati, pulchre munitum arbitror. "If the residents of a city have good morals, I consider it well fortified." Know Thyself. Vix decimus quisque est, qui ipsus sese noverit. "There is scarcely one in ten who knows himself." Pleasure. Misfortune. Voluptas est malorum esca: quod ea non minus homines Quam hamo capiuntur pisces. "Pleasure is the bait of misfortune; for by it men are caught, like fishes by a hook." Unwilling Aids are Poor. Stultitia est venatum ducere invitos canes. "It is folly to take out unwilling dogs to hunt." SENECA. BORN ABOUT 7 B.C.— DIED 65 A.D. LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA was a distinguished Roman philosopher and moralist, born about 7 B.C., and educated at Rome in philosophy, eloquence, and law. Several years of his early life were spent in travel and study in Greece and Egypt. On his return, he practiced some in the courts, was chosen Quaestor, and enjoyed high favor with Claudius the Emperor until, as a result of certain jealousies and court intrigue, he was banished to Corsica, where he spent the next eight years, mostly in philosophical study and writing. Through the influence of Agrippina, the second wife of Claudius, Seneca was recalled, appointed Praetor, and made the instructor of Nero; but the young prince finally rebelled against all restraint, and gradually became an open enemy of his former teacher and friend. Seneca tried in vain to protect himself from the young emperor's disfavor. After escaping death by poison, he was sentenced to inflict the punishment of death upon himself, which he did by severing the arteries of his body, and thus bleeding to death in his bath. The works of Seneca have nearly ali been preserved, the most important of which are as follows: De Ira, in three books, one of his earliest works; De Consolatione ad Helviam Matrem Liber, written to his mother during banishment; De Consolatione ad Polybium Liber, also written during exile; De Consolatione ad Marciam Liber, written after Seneca's return; De Providentia, designed to show the over-ruling providence of God in earthly things; De Tranquillitate Animi, written during his praetorship, and designed to show the means of attaining peace of mind; De Constantia Sapientis, or the wise man's resolution; De Clementia, a work of fulsome flattery, addressed to Nero; De Brevitate Vitae, in which he suggests the careful employment of time as the best means of gaining wisdom; De Vita Beata, in which he urges virtue as the only means of happiness; De Otio; De Beneficiis, in seven books, explaining the relation between the giver and the recipient of a favor. Epistolae Morales, one hundred and twenty-four letters, consisting of moral maxims, chiefly composed in the last years of Seneca's life, and embodying his moral reflections; Apocolocyntosis, a satire on the deceased Emperor, Claudius, the name being a play on the word for pumpkin, and signifying the reception of Claudius among the pumpkins; Quaestiones Naturales, in seven books, treating chiefly of natural history. Ten tragedies are also attributed to him by Quintilian, and are usually included with his works, but of these the authorship is doubtful. The writings of Seneca abound in moral sentiments of sterling merit; and the character of his thought, in many cases, bears a striking resemblance to that of St. Paul, the evangelist. His writings are a mine of delightful and interesting reflections upon life and its varied relations, scarcely equaled save by the proverbs of Solomon. Life. Non alia quam in ludo gladiatoris vita est, cum iisdem. viventium pugnantiumque. "Life is like a school of gladiators where men live and fight with each other." De Ira, II, 8. The Mind. Nihil est tam difficile et arduum, quod non humana mens vincat et in familiaritatem perducat adsidua meditatio. "There is nothing difficult and arduous which the human mind may not overcome, and, by constant meditation, bring into familiarity.”De Ira, II, 12. Resolution. Perseverance. Pertinacia impedimentum omne transcendit ostenditque nihil esse difficile, cujus sibi ipsa mens patientiam indiceret. "Obstinate resolution overcomes all opposition, and shows that nothing is difficult to him whose soul is charged with perseverance." De Ira, II, 12. Life. Happiness. Facilis est ad beatam vitam via: inite modo ipsis dis bene juvantibus. "The way to a happy life is easy; only enter it under the smiling favor of the gods."-- De Ira, II, 13. Education. Youth. Evil. Educatio maximam diligentiam plurimumque profuturam desiderat. Facile est enim teneros adhuc animos componere difficulter reciduntur vitia, quae nobiscum. creverunt. "Education requires the utmost diligence and will yield the greatest profit. For it is easy to fashion tender minds, but difficult to extirpate evils which have matured within us."— De Ira, II, 18. Change. Nature. Naturam mutare difficile est. "It is difficult to change nature."— De Ira, II, 20. Falsehood. Truth. Quaedam falsa veri speciem ferunt. "Sometimes falsehood presents the appearance of truth.”II, 22. Populace. Merit. De Ira, Non tam bene cum rebus humanis agitur, ut meliora pluribus placeant: argumentum pessimi, turba est. "Human affairs are not so adjusted that the best things please very many. Applause of the populace is the argument of a bad cause." De Vita Beata, 2. |