Stoic
philosopher, statesman
, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero
. While he was later forced to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy
to assassinate Nero, the last of the Julio-Claudian emperors
, he may have been innocent. His father was Seneca the Elder
and his elder brother was Gallio.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was born in Cordoba, in the Baetica, the southern highly romanized province of Spain.
He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt.
Ignoranti quem portum petat nullus suus ventus est.
Might makes right.
Successful and fortunate crime is called virtue.
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.
A good mind possesses a kingdom.
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.
He who profits by crime commits it.
He who does not prevent crime when he can encourages it.
Illi mors gravis incubat Qui notus nimis omnibus Ignotus moritur sibi