Young, I worked to live well. Old, to die well.
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 61.2
Ante senectutem curavi ut bene viverem, in senectute ut bene moriar
Young, I worked to live well. Old, to die well.
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 61.2
What it means
Seneca treats each stage of life as having its own job. Living well comes first, then being ready to let go without bitterness. Ask what your current stage is asking of you.
The source
"Young, I worked to live well. Old, to die well." Seneca said it in Letters to Lucilius 61.2. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
"Ante senectutem curavi ut bene viverem, in senectute ut bene moriar"Original Latin, Letters to Lucilius 61.2. 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 "Young, I worked to live well. Old, to die well." mean?
- Seneca treats each stage of life as having its own job. Living well comes first, then being ready to let go without bitterness. Ask what your current stage is asking of you.
- Who said "Young, I worked to live well. Old, to die well."?
- Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). Source: Letters to Lucilius 61.2.
- What is the original Latin?
- Ante senectutem curavi ut bene viverem, in senectute ut bene moriar. Translated from the original Latin by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Young, I worked to live well. Old, to die well." 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
"Young, I worked to live well. Old, to die well." (Seneca, Letters to Lucilius 61.2, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/young-i-worked-to-live-well-old-to
Filed under Quotes about time and Stoic quotes.
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The same line in every look it fits. Each one is printed to order on heavy cotton, same price.
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