On the Shortness of Life
by Seneca
"On the Shortness of Life" by Seneca is a philosophical essay that explores the nature of time and the importance of living a meaningful life. Seneca argues that life is not inherently short, but rather that many people waste their time on trivial pursuits, failing to appreciate the present. He encourages individuals to prioritize wisdom and virtue to make the most of their limited time.
31 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from On the Shortness of Life, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.
Life is long if you know how to use it.
The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today.
While we wait for life, life passes.
No man is given a shorter amount of time than he is capable of using.
It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
A good character, when established, is not easily shaken.
He who is brave is free.
The life we receive is not short, but we make it so.
We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end to them.
No person has been granted a shorter life than they can bear.
While we are postponing, life speeds by.
A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.
We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.
The life we receive is not short, but we make it short by wasting it.
To be everywhere is to be nowhere.
He who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary.
Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.
A good character, when established, can make time seem to stretch.
No one can lose either the past or the future; how could anyone be deprived of what he does not possess?
If you want to be rich, do not add to your money, but subtract from your desire.
A good character, when established, is not easily disturbed.
We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more in imagination than in reality.
A good character, which is the only thing that can be said to be truly ours, cannot be taken away.
If you wish to be rich, do not add to your money, but subtract from your desire.
We are all anxious to be remembered after death; but it is not enough to have a good life.
You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire.
A good character, which is formed by a good life, is the greatest gift of all.
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.