Seneca,
On the shortness of life — Chapter I
(1932)
“ But when it is squandered in luxury and carelessness, when it is devoted to no good end, forced at last by the ultimate necessity we perceive that it has passed away before we were aware that it was passing. So it is—the life we receive is not short, but we make it so, nor do we have any lack of it, but are wasteful of it. ”
Seneca,
On the shortness of life — Chapter I
(1932)
“ It was this that made the greatest of physicians exclaim that "life is short, art is long;" [2] it was this that led Aristotle, [3] while expostulating with Nature, to enter an indictment most unbecoming to a wise man—that, in point of age, she has shown such favour to animals that they drag out five or ten lifetimes, [4] but that a much shorter limit is fixed for man, though he is born for so many and such great achievements. ”
Seneca,
On the shortness of life — Chapter I
(1932)
“ Just as great and princely wealth is scattered in a moment when it comes into the hands of a bad owner, while wealth however limited, if it is entrusted to a good guardian, increases by use, so our life is amply long for him who orders it properly. ”
