Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"If you are wise, mingle these two elements: do not hope without despair, or despair without hope."

by:	Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 B.C.-A.D. 65) Roman�Stoic�philosopher,�statesman,�dramatist, "Seneca the Younger"
Source:	Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter CIV: On care of health and peace of mind, line 12
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Categories:	Wisdom, Hope, Desperation
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Reader comments about this quote:

A promised expectation is a polar opposite of an intrenched anguish or despondency. Is it wise to live in conflicting extremes (future and past at the same time, by example)? I don't think so. Hope is a forward looking desire of the unknown while, despair is a looking back observation of things gone wrong. -- Mike, Norwalk
Hmm, I think what Seneca was trying to elucidate was that there is always work ahead of us and to neither take an attitude of complaisance or defeat. -- E Archer, NYC