Tag Archives: @philo_quotes

Why do I not seek some real good; one which I could feel, not one which I could display?

Why do I not seek some real good; one which I could feel, not one which I could display? – Seneca What does that mean? This quote is kind of hard to understand on it’s own, as the context is stripped by … Continue reading

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The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.

The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity. – Seneca What does that mean? There are always troubles in our lives. We are all, at times, great. And we all have the opportunity to … Continue reading

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The mind unlearns with difficulty what it has long learned.

The mind unlearns with difficulty what it has long learned. – Seneca What does that mean? This is the ‘old dog, new tricks’ quote. Most of us are creatures of habit. We learn something, we do it for a while, and it … Continue reading

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Light troubles speak; the weighty are struck dumb.

Light troubles speak; the weighty are struck dumb. – Seneca What does that mean? In the play, the speaker has a great desire, but cannot bring themselves to speak of it. It is in this pained situation that the quote was … Continue reading

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He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. – Socrates What does that mean? This quote is a variant of a few other of his quotes, so I imagine … Continue reading

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Even if you have nothing to write, write and say so.

Even if you have nothing to write, write and say so. – Cicero What does that mean? While I couldn’t find a hard citation for this quote, it is a very interesting thought to consider. What do writers write about when … Continue reading

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There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it.

There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it. – Seneca What does that mean? The act of doing something nice for someone else, a good turn as it is described in the quote, … Continue reading

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What difference does it make how much you have? What you do not have amounts to much more.

What difference does it make how much you have? What you do not have amounts to much more. – Seneca and Aulus Gellius What does that mean? This is a quote about perspective. We all have something, even if it is … Continue reading

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True happiness is… to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.

True happiness is… to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future. – Seneca What does that mean? This quote is about relaxing and being ‘in the moment.’ How often do we hurry to get here or there? How often … Continue reading

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I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.

I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good. – Seneca What does that mean? This is a variant translation of a longer quote, which talks about being the bearer of bad news, and his … Continue reading

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We are more often frightened than hurt: and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.

We are more often frightened than hurt: and we suffer more from imagination than from reality. – Seneca What does that mean? Given that this is October, and the scariest night of the year is just a few weeks away, this is … Continue reading

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The mind that is anxious about the future is miserable.

The mind that is anxious about the future is miserable. – Seneca What does that mean? Anxious. Nervous. Worried. The future can be a scary thing. However, being anxious doesn’t make it any less scary. Nor does it change the possibility … Continue reading

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It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.

It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting. – Epictetus What does that mean? I like this quote. It has an interesting perspective on things, and that is … Continue reading

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No untroubled day has ever dawned for me.

No untroubled day has ever dawned for me. – Seneca What does that mean? This is a classic bit of wisdom. Who has ever had a day completely free of troubles? It might be statistically possible, but typically, they are rare at … Continue reading

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If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.

If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it. – Epictetus What does that mean? This is a classic of introspection. It says that people will speak ill of you. … Continue reading

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