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A dwarf is small even if he stands on a mountain; a colossus
keeps his height, even if he stands in a well.
[Lat., Parvus pumilio, licet in monte constiterit; colossus
magnitudinem suam servabit, etiam si steterit in puteo.]
Topic: Ability
Source: Epistles (76)
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Great men rejoice in adversity just as brave soldiers triumph in
war.
[Lat., Gaudent magni viri rebus adversis non aliter, quam fortes
milites bellis.]
Topic: Adversity
Source: De Providentia (IV)
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Behold a worthy sight, to which the God, turning his attention to
his own work, may direct his gaze. Behold an equal thing, worthy
of a God, a brave man matched in conflict with evil fortune.
[Lat., Ecce spectaculum dignum, ad quod respiciat intentus operi
suo Deus. Ecce par Deo dignum, vir fortis cum mala fortuna
compositus.]
Topic: Adversity
Source: Lib. de Divina Providentia
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He who begs timidly courts a refusal.
[Lat., Qui timide rogat,
Docet negare.]
Topic: Beggary
Source: Hippolytus (II, 593)
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Whatever begins, also ends.
[Lat., Quicquid coepit, et desinit.]
Topic: Beginnings
Source: De Consolatione ad Polybium (I)
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A benefit consists not in what is done or given, but in the
intention of the giver or doer.
[Lat., Beneficium non in eo quot fit aut datur consistit sed in
ipso dantis aut facientis animo.]
Topic: Benefits
Source: De Beneficiis (I, 6)
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A benefit is estimated according to the mind of the giver.
[Lat., Eodem animo beneficium debetur, quo datur.]
Topic: Benefits
Source: De Beneficiis (II, 1)
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Let him that hath done the good office conceal it; let him that
received it disclose it.
[Lat., Qui dedit beneficium taceat; narret; qui accepit.]
Topic: Benefits
Source: De Beneficiis (II, 11)
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He gives a benefit twice who gives quickly.
[Lat., Inopi beneficium bis dat, qui dat celeriter.]
Topic: Benefits
Source: Proverbs of Seneca
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A crowd of fellow-sufferers is a miserable kind of comfort.
[Lat., Maliuolum solacii genus est turba miserorum.]
Topic: Companionship
Source: De Consolatione ad Marciam (12, 5)
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[Epicurus] says that you should rather have regard to the company
with whom you eat and drink, than to what you eat and drink.
[Ante, inquit, cicumspiciendum est, cum quibos edas et bibas,
quam quid edas et bibas.]
Topic: Companionship
Source: Epistles (XIX)
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No possession is gratifying without a companion.
[Lat., Nullius boni sine sociis jucunda possessio est.]
Topic: Companionship
Source: Epistoloe Ad Lucilium (VI)
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The whole discord of this world consists in discords.
[Lat., Tota hujus mundi concordia ex discordibus constat.]
Topic: Contention
Source: Nat. Quoest (bk. VII, 27)
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Successful crime is dignified with the name of virtue; the good
become the slaves of the impious; might makes right; fear
silences the power of the law.
[Lat., Prosperum ac felix scelus
Virtus vocatur; sontibus patent boni;
Jus est in armis, opprimit leges timor.]
Topic: Crime
Source: Hercules Furens (CCLI)
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A thing seriously pursued affords true enjoyment.
[Lat., Res severa est verum gaudium.]
Topic: Enjoyment
Source: Epistles (XXIII, 3, 4)
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It is the practice of the multitude to bark at eminent men, as
little dogs do at strangers.
Topic: Envy
Source: Of a Happy Life (ch. XIX)
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Fidelity bought with money is overcome by money.
[Lat., Pretio parata vincitur pretio fides.]
Topic: Fidelity
Source: Agamemnon (287)
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Prosperity asks for fidelity; adversity exacts it.
[Lat., Poscunt fidem secunda, at adversa exigunt.]
Topic: Fidelity
Source: Agamemnon (934)
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Let the man, who would be grateful, think of repaying a kindness,
even while receiving it.
[Lat., Qui gratus futurus est statim dum accipit de reddendo
cogitet.]
Topic: Gratitude
Source: De Beneficiis (II, 25)
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Light griefs are communicative, great ones stupefy.
[Lat., Curae leves loquuntur, ingentes stupent.]
Topic: Grief
Source: Hippolytus (607)
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That grief is light which can take counsel.
[Lat., Levis est dolor qui capere consilium potest.]
Topic: Grief
Source: Medea (I, 55)
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Great grief does not of itself put an end itself.
[Lat., Magnus sibi ipse non facit finem dolor.]
Topic: Grief
Source: Troades (786)
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He is not guilty who is not guilty of his own free will.
[Lat., Haud est nocens, quicumque non sponte est nocens.]
Topic: Guilt
Source: Hercules Oetoeus (886)
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The fearful face usually betrays great guilt.
[Lat., Multa trepidus solet
Detegere vultus.]
Topic: Guilt
Source: Thyestes (CCCXXX)
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Whom they have injured they also hate.
[Lat., Quos laeserunt et oderunt.]
Topic: Hatred
Source: De Ira (bk. II, ch. 33)
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A hungry people listens not to reason, not cares for justice, nor
is bent by any prayers.
[Lat., Nec rationem patitur, nec aequitate mitigatur nec ulla
prece flectitur, populus esuriens.]
Topic: Hunger
Source: De Brevitate Vitoe (XVIII)
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He is ungrateful who denies that he has received a kindness which
has been bestowed upon him; he is ungrateful who conceals it; he
is ungrateful who makes no return for it; most ungrateful of all
is he who forgets it.
[Lat., Ingratus est, qui beneficium accepisse se negat, quod
accepit: ingratus est, qui dissimulat; ingratus, qui non reddit;
ingratissimus omnium, qui oblitus est.]
Topic: Ingratitude
Source: De Beneficiis (III, 1)
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He who has injured thee was either stronger or weaker. If
weaker, spare him; if stronger, spare thyself.
[Lat., Aut potentior te, aut imbecillior laesit: si imbecillior,
barce ille; si potentior, tibi.]
Topic: Injury
Source: De Ira (III, 5)
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What narrow innocence it is for one to be good only according to
the law.
[Lat., Quam angusta innocentia est, ad legem bonum esse.]
Topic: Innocence
Source: De Ira (II, 27)
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What is more insane than to vent on senseless things the anger
that is felt towards men?
[Lat., Quid est dementius quam bilem in homines collectam in res
effundere.]
Topic: Insanity
Source: De Ira (II, 26)
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There has never been any great genius without a spice of madness.
[Lat., Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit.]
Topic: Insanity
Source: De Tranquillitate Animi (XVII, 10)
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It is often better not to see an insult than to avenge it.
[Lat., Saepe satius fuit dissimulare quam ulcisci.]
Topic: Insult
Source: De Ira (II, 32)
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Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness.
[Lat., Nihil aliud est ebrietas quam voluntaria insania.]
Topic: Intemperance
Source: Epistoloe Ad Lucilium (LXXXIII)
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If you judge, investigate; if you reign, command.
[Lat., Si judicas, cognosce; si regnas, jube.]
Topic: Judges
Source: Medea (CXCIV)
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For I do not distinguish them by the eye, but by the mind, which
is the proper judge of the man.
Topic: Judgment
Source: Of a Happy Life (ch. I), (L'Estrange's Abstract)
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Wherever there is a human being there is an opportunity for a
kindness.
[Lat., Unicumque homo est, ibi beneficio locus est.]
Topic: Kindness
Source: Thyestes (CCXIV)
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We have lost morals, justice, honor, piety and faith, and that
sense of shame which, once lost, can never be restored.
[Lat., Periere mores, jus, decus, pietas, fides,
Et qui redire nescit, cum perit, pudor.]
Topic: Loss
Source: Agamemnon (CXII)
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Mercy often inflicts death.
[Lat., Mortem misericors saepe pro vita dabit.]
Topic: Mercy
Source: Troades (329)
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Fire tries gold, misery tries brave men.
[Lat., Ignis aurum probat, misera fortes viros.]
Topic: Misery
Source: De Providentia (V)
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The wretched hasten to hear of their own miseries.
[Lat., Miserias properant suas
Audire miseri.]
Topic: Misery
Source: Hercules Oetoeus (754)
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Calamity is virtue's opportunity.
[Lat., Calamitas virtutis occasio est.]
Topic: Misfortune
Source: De Procidentia (IV)
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There in no one more unfortunate than the man who has never been
unfortunate. for it has never been in his power to try himself.
[Lat., Nihil infelicius eo, cui nihil unquam evenit adversi, non
licuit enim illi se experiri.]
Topic: Misfortune
Source: De Providentia (III)
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There is nothing so wretched or foolish as to anticipate
misfortunes. What madness it is in your expecting evil before it
arrives!
[Lat., Nil est nec miserius nec stultius quam praetimere. Quae
ista dementia est, malum suum antecedere!]
Topic: Misfortune
Source: Epistoloe Ad Lucilium (XCVIII)
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When you see a man in distress, recognize him as a fellow man.
[Lat., Quemcumque miserum videris, hominem scias.]
Topic: Misfortune
Source: Hercules Furens (463)
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It is bad to live for necessity; but there is no necessity to
live in necessity.
[Lat., Malum est necessitati vivere; sed in necessitate vivere
necessitas nulla est.]
Topic: Necessity
Source: Epistles (58)
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They laboriously do nothing.
[Lat., Operose nihil agunt.]
Topic: Nothingness
Source: De Brevitate Vitoe (bk. I, 13)
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To preserve the life of citizens, is the greatest virtue in the
father of his country.
[Lat., Servare cives, major est virtus patriae patri.]
Topic: Patriotism
Source: Octavia (444)
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Poison is drunk out of gold.
[Lat., Venenum in auro bibitur.]
Topic: Poison
Source: Thyestes (III, 453)
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Why do you ask, how long has he lived? He has lived to
posterity.
[Lat., Quid quaeris, quamdiu visit? Vixit ad posteros.]
Topic: Posterity
Source: Epistles (XCIII)
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He deserves praise who does not what he may, but what he ought.
[Lat., Id facere laus est quod decet, non quod licet.]
Topic: Praise
Source: Octavia (454)
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