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No man can have a peaceful life who thinks too much about lengthening it.
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“No man can have a peaceful life who thinks too much about lengthening it.”

Seneca

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Source
Moral letters to Lucilius
Date
c. 65
English wording
Richard M. Gummere — Translator · from Latin
Meaning

Meaning of “No man can have a peaceful life who…”

An obsession with extending life can undermine the peace of the life already present, because fear of ending displaces attention from living.

Source context

Where does it come from?

Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 4.

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Themes

Ideas connected with this quotation

Acceptance Quotes About Reality, Limits & ChangeAngerCalmCourage Quotes About Acting Despite FearDiscipline Quotes About Habits, Practice & ConsistencyFearGriefHealingInner PeaceLetting Go Quotes About Release & Moving ForwardLife Is ShortMindMindfulnessMoving OnPatiencePeacePresent MomentSadSelf-Control Quotes About Restraint & JudgmentShortSimplicityStoicStrengthTimeLife Goes On
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The mind is its own place.
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“The mind is its own place.”

John Milton · Paradise Lost · 1667
Voice: Poetic speaker · Satan
Meaning & context

The statement emphasizes how mental framing can alter the experience of circumstances, for good or ill.

Source details

Paradise Lost (1667), Book I, line 254; retained legacy short extract from the fuller Satan sentence beginning ‘The mind is its own place’ and continuing into line 255. It is the same underlying passage as the longer catalog record, not a separate fifth passage.

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It is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself.
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“It is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself.”

Marcus Aurelius · Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus · c. 170
Meaning & context

A person can create an inward pause even when external conditions are noisy, using reflection to restore order before returning to action.

Source details

Meditations, Book IV, in George Long’s translation; this is the central clause of the retreat passage.

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Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things.
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“Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things.”

Epictetus · Enchiridion · c. 125
Meaning & context

Epictetus separates an event from the judgment placed on it, making interpretation a practical point of leverage.

Source details

Enchiridion 5 in George Long’s translation; the passage distinguishes events from the opinions that disturb us.

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Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.
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“Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.”

Epictetus · Enchiridion · c. 125
Meaning & context

Peace is sought by aligning desire with reality rather than requiring reality to obey preference, a central Stoic distinction between response and circumstance.

Source details

Enchiridion, section 8; Epictetus applies Stoic acceptance to events outside personal control.

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