But is life really worth so much? Let us examine this; it's a different inquiry. We will offer no solace for so desolate a prison house; we will encourage no one to endure the overlordship of butchers. We shall rather show that in every kind of slavery, the road of freedom lies open. I will say to the man to whom it befell to have a king shoot arrows at his dear ones [Prexaspes], and to him whose master makes fathers banquet on their sons' guts [Harpagus]: 'What are you groaning for, fool?.. Everywhere you look you find an end to your sufferings. You see that steep drop-off? It leads down to freedom. You see that ocean, that river, that well? Freedom lies at its bottom. You see that short, shriveled, bare tree? Freedom hangs from it.. You ask, what is the path to freedom? Any vein in your body. Seneca
About This Quote

Rumi is a 13th century Persian poet and mystic. He tells us that we could find freedom in any vein in our body. The veins in our body contain blood and oxygen and they transport the blood throughout the body and bring it to all the cells. When we see freedom and freedom is in our veins, we can be free.

Freedom is something that comes from within us, not something that someone else grants us. This idea can be applied to love, life, health, honor, respect, etc.

Source: Dying Every Day: Seneca At The Court Of Nero

Some Similar Quotes
  1. It’s probably not just by chance that I’m alone. It would be very hard for a man to live with me, unless he’s terribly strong. And if he’s stronger than I, I’m the one who can’t live with him. … I’m neither smart nor stupid,... - Coco Chanel
  2. I am not an angel, ' I asserted; 'and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself. Mr. Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial of me - for you will not get it, any more than I shall... - Unknown
  3. The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day. - David Foster Wallace
  4. They say a good love is one that sits you down, gives you a drink of water, and pats you on top of the head. But I say a good love is one that casts you into the wind, sets you ablaze, makes you burn... - C. Joybell C.
  5. Keep your best wishes, close to your heart and watch what happens - Tony Deliso
More Quotes By Seneca
  1. Life is like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters.
  2. Timendi causa est nescire - Ignorance is the cause of fear.
  3. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
  4. Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.
  5. As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
Related Topics