Rules take the long road. Example takes the short one.
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 6.5
longum iter est per praecepta, breve et efficax per exempla
Rules take the long road. Example takes the short one.
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 6.5
What it means
People believe their eyes more than their ears. Advice takes years to sink in, while one person living well teaches fast. If you want to change others, show them first.
The source
"Rules take the long road. Example takes the short one." Seneca said it in Letters to Lucilius 6.5. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
"longum iter est per praecepta, breve et efficax per exempla"Original Latin, Letters to Lucilius 6.5. 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 "Rules take the long road. Example takes the short one." mean?
- People believe their eyes more than their ears. Advice takes years to sink in, while one person living well teaches fast. If you want to change others, show them first.
- Who said "Rules take the long road. Example takes the short one."?
- Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). Source: Letters to Lucilius 6.5.
- What is the original Latin?
- longum iter est per praecepta, breve et efficax per exempla. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Rules take the long road. Example takes the short one." 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
"Rules take the long road. Example takes the short one." (Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 6.5, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/rules-take-the-long-road-example-takes-the
Filed under Quotes about character and Stoic quotes.
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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
- While you put life off, it runs past.Letters to Lucilius 1.3
- Nothing is truly yours except your time.Letters to Lucilius 1.3
- Be everywhere and you are nowhere.Letters to Lucilius 2.2
- Poor is not having little. Poor is wanting more.Letters to Lucilius 2.6