Live by nature and you'll never be poor.
Epicurus, quoted by Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 16.7
si ad naturam vives, numquam eris pauper; si ad opiniones, numquam eris dives
Live by nature and you'll never be poor.
Epicurus, quoted by Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 16.7
What it means
The second half says: live by opinion and you will never be rich. Nature asks for little, while other people's standards keep rising. Measure your needs by your body and your work, not by what the neighbors have.
The source
"Live by nature and you'll never be poor." Epicurus, quoted by Seneca said it in Letters to Lucilius 16.7. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
"si ad naturam vives, numquam eris pauper; si ad opiniones, numquam eris dives"Original Latin, Letters to Lucilius 16.7. Text read at thelatinlibrary.com.
Who said it
Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). Stoic philosopher, playwright and adviser to the emperor Nero. His letters to his friend Lucilius are the most readable handbook of Stoicism ever written.
Questions
- What does "Live by nature and you'll never be poor." mean?
- The second half says: live by opinion and you will never be rich. Nature asks for little, while other people's standards keep rising. Measure your needs by your body and your work, not by what the neighbors have.
- Who said "Live by nature and you'll never be poor."?
- Epicurus, quoted by Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). Source: Letters to Lucilius 16.7.
- What is the original Latin?
- si ad naturam vives, numquam eris pauper; si ad opiniones, numquam eris dives. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Live by nature and you'll never be poor." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"Live by nature and you'll never be poor." (Epicurus, quoted by Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 16.7, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/live-by-nature-and-youll-never-be-poor
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More from Seneca
- Claim yourself back.Letters to Lucilius 1.1
- Most of life slips away doing nothing, or the wrong thing.Letters to Lucilius 1.1
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- Nothing is truly yours except your time.Letters to Lucilius 1.3
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