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A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.

Seneca the Younger

In the meantime, cling tooth and nail to the following rule: not to give in to adversity, not to trust prosperity, and always take full note of fortune’s habit of behaving just as she pleases.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Adversity Giving Teeth
What should a wise person do when given a blow? Same as Cato when he was attacked; not fire up or revenge the insult., or even return the blow, but simply ignore it.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Attack Blow Revenge Wise
He that lays down precepts for the governing of our lives, and moderating our passions, obliges humanity not only in the present, but in all future generations.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Generation Humanity Passion
There is the need for someone against which our characters can measure themselves. Without a ruler, you won’t make the crooked straight.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Character Crooked Need
To be feared is to fear. No one has been able to strike terror into others and at the same time enjoy peace of mind.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Able Mind Peace Terror
Men learn while they teach.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Education Inspirational Teacher
Eternal law has arranged nothing better than this, that it has given us one way in to life, but many ways out.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Arrange Given Law Way
What madness it is for a man to starve himself to enrich his heir, and so turn a friend into an enemy! For his joy at your death will be proportioned to what you leave him.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Death Joy Men
All my life I have been seeking to climb out of the pit of my besetting sins and I cannot do it and I never will unless a hand is let down to draw me up.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Besetting Down Hands Let Pit
It is not poverty that we praise, it is the man whom poverty cannot humble or bend.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Humble Men Poverty
It is to the interest of the commonwealth of mankind that there should be someone who is unconquered, someone against whom fortune has no power.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Fortune Mankind Someone Unconquer
It is more fitting for a man to laugh at life than to lament over it.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Happiness Inspirational Laughter
There is nothing wrong with changing a plan when the situation has changed.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Changed Investing Situation
Even after a bad harvest there must be sowing.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Courage Perseverance Sowing
One crime has to be concealed by another.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Crime Philosophical Prison
Light is that grief which counsel can allay.
SENECA THE YOUNGER

Allay Counsel Grief Light

A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.

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A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.

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