Seneca, Letter 16

Philosophy as the guide of life

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Ep. 16.1Liquēre hoc tibi, Lūcīlī, sciō, nēminem posse beātē vīvere, nē tolerābiliter quidem sine sapientiae studiō et beātam vītam perfectā sapientiā efficī, cēterum tolerābilem etiam inchoātā.I know that this is clear to you, Lucilius: that no one can live happily, nor even tolerably, without the study of wisdom, and that a happy life is brought about by perfected wisdom, but a tolerable one even by wisdom just begun. Ep. 16.1Sed hoc, quod liquet, firmandum et altius cōtīdiānā meditātiōne Agendum est;But this, which is clear, must be strengthened and driven deeper by daily reflection; Ep. 16.1plūs operis est in eō, ut prōposita custōdiās quam ut honesta prōpōnās.there is more work in keeping to your resolutions than in resolving on what is honourable. Ep. 16.1Persevērandum est et adsiduō studiō rōbur addendum, dōnec bona mēns sit quod bona voluntās est.You must persevere and add strength by constant study, until what is a good will becomes a good mind. Ep. 16.2Itaque tibi apud mē plūribus verbīs aut adfirmātiōne iam nīl opus;So you no longer need many words or assurances to me; Ep. 16.2intellegō multum tē prōfēcisse.I understand that you have made much progress.

Ep. 16.2Quae scrībis, unde veniant, sciō;I know where the things you write come from; Ep. 16.2nōn sunt ficta nec colōrāta.they are not feigned or coloured. Ep. 16.2Dīcam tamen quid sentiam: iam dē tē spem habeō, nōndum fīdūciam.Still, I shall say what I think: I now have hope of you, not yet confidence. Ep. 16.2Tū quoque idem faciās volō;I want you to do the same as well; Ep. 16.2nōn est, quod tibi citō et facile crēdās.there is no reason for you to trust yourself quickly and easily. Ep. 16.2Excute tē et variē Scrūtāre et observā;Shake yourself out, search yourself in various ways and watch yourself; Ep. 16.2illud ante omnia vidē, utrum in philosophiā an in ipsā vītā prōfēcerīs.see above all whether you have made progress in philosophy or in life itself. Ep. 16.3Nōn est philosophia populāre artificium nec ostentātiōnī parātum.Philosophy is not a craft for the crowd, nor one designed for display. Ep. 16.3Nōn in verbīs, sed in rēbus est.It lies not in words but in deeds. Ep. 16.3Nec in hōc adhibētur, ut cum aliquā oblectātiōne cōnsūmātur diēs, ut dēmātur ōtiō nausiā.Nor is it employed for this, that the day may be spent with some amusement, that boredom may be taken away from leisure.

Ep. 16.3Animum fōrmat et fabricat, vītam dispōnit, āctiōnēs regit, agenda et omittenda dēmōnstrat, sedet ad gubernāculum et per ancipitia flūctuantium dērigit cursum.It shapes and builds the mind, sets life in order, governs actions, shows what should be done and what left undone, sits at the helm and steers the course of those who are tossed about through perils. Ep. 16.3Sine hāc nēmō intrepidē potest vīvere, nēmō sēcūrē.Without it no one can live fearlessly, no one free from care. Ep. 16.3Innumerābilia accidunt singulīs hōrīs, quae cōnsilium exigant, quod ab hāc petendum est.Countless things happen every hour that demand counsel, and that counsel must be sought from philosophy. Ep. 16.4Dīcet aliquis: "Quid mihi prōdest philosophia, sī fātum est?Someone will say: 'What use is philosophy to me, if there is fate? Ep. 16.4Quid prōdest, sī deus rēctor est?What use is it, if a god is the ruler? Ep. 16.4Quid prōdest, sī cāsus imperat?What use is it, if chance holds command? Ep. 16.4Nam et mūtārī certa nōn possunt et nihil praeparārī potest adversus incerta;For what is fixed cannot be changed, and nothing can be prepared against what is uncertain; Ep. 16.4sed aut cōnsilium meum occupāvit deus dēcrēvitque quid facerem, aut cōnsiliō meō nihil fortūna permittit."but either a god has forestalled my counsel and decreed what I should do, or fortune allows nothing to my counsel.' Ep. 16.5Quicquid est ex hīs, Lūcīlī, vel sī omnia haec sunt, philosophandum est: sīve nōs inexōrābilī lēge fāta cōnstringunt, sīve arbiter deus ūniversī cūncta disposuit, sīve cāsus rēs hūmānās sine ōrdine inpellit et iactat, philosophia nōs tuērī dēbet.Whichever of these is true, Lucilius, or even if all of them are, we must practise philosophy: whether the fates bind us with an inexorable law, or a god, arbiter of the universe, has arranged all things, or chance drives and tosses human affairs without order, philosophy must protect us.

Ep. 16.5Haec adhortābitur, ut deō libenter pāreāmus, ut fortūnae contumāciter;She will urge us to obey the god willingly, fortune defiantly; Ep. 16.5haec docēbit, ut deum sequāris, ferās cāsum.she will teach you to follow the god and to bear chance. Ep. 16.6Sed nōn est nunc in hanc disputātiōnem trānseundum, quid sit iūris nostrī, sī prōvidentia in imperiō est, aut sī fātōrum seriēs inligātōs trahit, aut sī repentīna ac subita dominantur;But we must not now pass on to this debate, what is within our own control if providence holds power, or if a chain of fates drags us along bound, or if sudden and unforeseen events rule; Ep. 16.6illō nunc revertor, ut tē moneam et exhorter, nē patiāris inpetum animī tuī dēlābī et refrīgēscere.I return now to this point, to warn and exhort you not to let the impulse of your mind slip away and grow cold. Ep. 16.6Continē illum et cōnstitue, ut habitus animī fīat, quod est inpetus.Hold it fast and settle it, so that what is now an impulse may become a habit of mind. Ep. 16.7Iam ab initiō, sī tē bene nōvī, circumspiciēs, quid haec epistula mūnusculī attulerit.Already, from the start, if I know you well, you will be looking round to see what little gift this letter has brought.

Ep. 16.7Excute illam, et inveniēs.Shake it out, and you will find it. Ep. 16.7Nōn est quod mīrēris animum meum;There is no reason for you to marvel at my generosity; Ep. 16.7adhūc dē aliēnō līberālis sum.so far I am liberal with another's property. Ep. 16.7Quārē autem aliēnum dīxī?But why did I say 'another's'? Ep. 16.7Quicquid bene dictum est ab ūllō, meum est.Whatever has been well said by anyone is mine. Ep. 16.7Istuc quoque ab Epicūrō dictum est: "Sī ad nātūram vīvēs, numquam eris pauper;This too was said by Epicurus: 'If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; Ep. 16.7sī ad opīniōnēs, numquam eris dīves."if according to opinion, you will never be rich.' Ep. 16.8Exiguum nātūra dēsīderat, opīniō inmēnsum.Nature desires little, opinion something boundless. Ep. 16.8Congerātur in tē quicquid multī locuplētēs possēderant.Let whatever many rich men had possessed be heaped upon you. Ep. 16.8Ultrā prīvātum pecūniae modum fortūna tē prōvehat, aurō tegat, purpurā vestiat, eō dēliciārum opumque perdūcat, ut terram marmoribus abscondās, nōn tantum habēre tibi liceat, sed calcāre dīvitiās.Let fortune carry you beyond the measure of a private fortune, cover you with gold, clothe you in purple, bring you to such a pitch of luxury and wealth that you hide the earth under marble, that you may not only possess riches but tread on them.

Ep. 16.8Accēdant statuae et pictūrae et quicquid ars ūlla luxuriae ēlabōrāvit;Add statues and paintings and whatever any art of luxury has laboured to produce; Ep. 16.8maiōra cupere ab hīs discēs.from these things you will learn to desire still greater ones. Ep. 16.9Nātūrālia dēsīderia fīnīta sunt;Natural desires are limited; Ep. 16.9ex falsā opīniōne nāscentia ubi dēsinant, nōn habent.those born from false opinion have no point at which to stop. Ep. 16.9Nūllus enim terminus falsō est.For there is no boundary to what is false. Ep. 16.9Viam euntī aliquid extrēmum est;For one travelling a road there is some end; Ep. 16.9error inmēnsus est.wandering astray is boundless. Ep. 16.9Retrahe ergō tē ā vānīs, et cum volēs scīre, quod petēs, utrum nātūrālem habeat an caecam cupiditātem, cōnsīderā, num possit alicubi cōnsistere.Draw yourself back, then, from empty things, and when you want to know whether what you seek springs from a natural or a blind desire, consider whether it can come to rest anywhere. Ep. 16.9Sī longē prōgressō semper aliquid longius restat, scītō id nātūrāle nōn esse.If, when you have gone far, something farther always remains, know that it is not natural.

Ep. 16.9Valē.Farewell.

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Grammar in this passage: ablative absolute ×1, indirect statement ×4, gerunds and gerundives ×9, purpose clauses ×8

Latin vocabulary for this passage (293 words)

liqueō, -ēre, licuī	be clear; parum liquet, it is not clear
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
tū, tuī, pers. pron.	thou, you
sciō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	know
nēmō, nēminis, m. and f.	no one, nobody
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
beātē (adv.)	happily, blessedly
vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctus	live
nē, adv.	not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
tolerābiliter (adv.)	tolerably, bearably
quidem, adv.	in fact, indeed, certainly; nē ... quidem, not ... even
sine, prep. with abl.	without
sapientia, -ae f.	wisdom, good sense
studium, -ī, n.	eagerness, zeal; study, pursuit
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
beātus, -a, -um	happy, blessed
vīta, -ae, f.	life
perficiō, -ficere, -fēcī, -fectus	do or make through, accomplish
efficiō, -ficere, -fēcī, -fectus	make or work out, accomplish, effect
cēterum (adv.)	but, however; for the rest
tolerābilis, -e	bearable, tolerable
etiam, adv.	and now, also, too, even
inchoō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	begin, start on; sketch out
sed, conj.	but
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
firmō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	strengthen, secure
altē (adv.)	high; deep
cottīdiānus, -a, -um	daily
meditātiō, -ōnis f.	thinking over, contemplation; practice, preparation
agō, agere, ēgī, āctus	drive; do; pass, lead; grātiās agere, see grātia
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
multus, -a, -um	much, great; plur., many
opus, operis, n.	work, task
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
prōpōnō, -pōnere, -posuī, -positus	put or set before, offer, propose; set forth, say
custōdiō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	guard
quam, adv.	how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
honestus, -a, -um	respected, honourable
persevērō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	persist
assiduus, -a, -um	constant, unremitting
rōbur, rōboris, n.	oak
addō, -ere, -didī, -ditus	add, put to
dōnec (conj.)	until; while, as long as
bonus, -a, -um	good
mēns, mentis f.	mind, spirit
voluntās, -tātis, f.	wish, will
itaque, adv.	and so, accordingly, therefore
apud, prep, with acc.	among, with
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
plūrēs, -a, plur. adj.	more, many, several
verbum, -ī, n.	word
aut, conj.	or; aut ... aut, either ... or
adfirmātiō, -ōnis f.	assurance, firm statement
iam, adv.	now, already
nihil, n., indecl.	nothing
intellegō, -legere, -lēxī, -lēctus	perceive, understand
multum, -ī, n.	much
prōficiō, -ere, -fēcī, -fectum	accomplish, make progress
scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptus	write
unde, adv.	whence
veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventus	come
nōn, adv.	not
fingō, fingere, finxī, fictus	invent, make up
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
colōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	colour; tan; give a false colour to, disguise
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus	say, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
tamen, adv.	however, yet, nevertheless
quis, quid, interrog. pron.	who? which? what?
sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsus	perceive, feel
dē, prep, with abl.	down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
spēs, speī, f.	hope
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	have, hold; consider
nōndum, adv.	not yet
fīdūcia, -ae f.	confidence, trust, reliance
quoque, adv.	also
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.	the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
faciō, facere, fēcī, factus	make, do; iter facere, see iter
volō, velle, voluī	wish
quod, conj.	that, in that, because
citō (adv.; comp. citius)	quickly, soon; citius: more quickly, without delay
facile, adv.	easily
crēdō, -dere, -didī, -ditus	believe
excutiō, -ere, -cussī, -cussus	shake off, shake out
variē (adv.)	in different ways, variously
scrūtor, -ārī, -ātus sum	search, examine closely
observō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	watch; keep, respect
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.	that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
ante, prep, with acc. and adv.	before
omnis, -e	all, every
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus	see; pass., seem
utrum (conj.)	whether (utrum … an: whether … or)
philosophia, -ae f.	philosophy
an, conj.	or (in questions)
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.	self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
populāris, -e	of the people; popular; courting the people (a 'popular' politician)
artificium, -ī n.	craft, skill; trade
ostentātiō, -ōnis f.	display, show
parō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	make ready, prepare
rēs, reī, f.	thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
adhibeō, -hibēre, -hibuī, -hibitus	hold to, employ, show
cum, prep, with abl.	with
aliquī, -qua, -quod, indef. pron. adj.	some, any
oblectātiō, -ōnis f.	delight, amusement, entertainment
cōnsūmō, -sūmere, -sūmpsī, -sūmptus	take completely, use up, consume, spend
diēs, -ēī, m. and f.	day
dēmō, -ere, dēmpsī, dēmptus	take away, remove
ōtium, -ī n.	leisure, rest; peace, quiet
nausea (nausia), -ae f.	seasickness
animus, -ī, m.	mind; heart; spirit, courage
fōrmō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	shape, form, fashion
fabricō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	make, build, fashion
dispōnō, -ere, -posuī, -positum	station here and there, post
āctiō, -ōnis f.	doing, action; a public act or measure
regō, -ere, rēxī, rēctum	guide, steer, rule
omittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missus	let go, neglect, disregard, throw away, lose
dēmōnstrō, -mōnstrāre, -mōnstrāvī, -mōnstrātus	point out, show; make known
sedeō, sedēre, sēdī, sessus	sit
ad, prep. with acc.	to, toward; at, near; for
gubernāculum (gubernāclum), -ī n.	rudder, helm
per, prep, with ace.	through, by means of
anceps, ancipitis	two-sided, on two fronts; doubtful
flūctuō, -āre, -āvī	move like waves; waver, hesitate
dērigō, -ere, -rēxī, -rēctum	set in line, draw up; direct
cursus, -ūs, m.	running, speed; course, route, voyage; race
intrepidē (adv.)	fearlessly, calmly
sēcūrē (adv.)	without anxiety, carelessly; safely
innumerābilis, -e	countless
accidō, -cidere, -cidī	fall to or upon; befall, happen
singulī, -ae, -a	one at a time, single
hōra, -ae, f.	hour
cōnsilium, -ī, n.	advice; plan, design, purpose; prudence
exigō, -ere, -ēgī, -āctum	drive out; finish, spend (a season)
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)	away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
petō, -ere, -īvī or -iī, -ītus	seek, ask; attack
aliquis, -quid, indef. pron.	someone, any one, something, anything, some, any
prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī	be of advantage, profit, avail, assist
sī, conj.	if
fātum, -ī, n.	destiny, fate
deus, -ī, m.	god
rēctor, -ōris m.	ruler, guide, director
cāsus, -ūs, m.	fall; chance, accident
imperō, -perāre, -perāvī, -perātus	command, order, enjoin
nam, conj.	for
mūtō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	change
certus, -a, -um	determined, fixed, certain; certiōrem facere, to make more certain, inform
praeparō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	prepare beforehand
adversus, -a, -um	facing; unfavourable, unsuccessful
incertus, -a, -um	uncertain, unreliable
meus, -a, -um	my, mine
occupō, -cupāre, -cupāvī, -cupātus	seize; fill
dēcernō, -ere, dēcrēvī, dēcrētum	decide, decree
que, enclitic conj.	and
fortūna, -ae, f.	fortune
permittō, -ere, -mīsī, -missum	allow, permit; entrust
quisquis, quidquid (quicquid)	whoever, whatever
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)	out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
vel	or; vel … vel: either … or
philosophor, -ārī, -ātus sum	study philosophy, philosophise
sīve or seu, conj.	or if; sīve ... sīve, whether ... or
nōs	plur. of ego
inexōrābilis, -e	relentless, not to be moved by entreaty
lēx, lēgis f.	law
cōnstringō, -ere, -strīnxī, -strictus	bind tight; restrain, hold in check
arbiter, -trī m.	judge, umpire
ūniversus, -a, -um	all together, whole, entire, all
cūnctus, -a, -um	all, the whole
hūmānus, -a, -um	of man, human
ōrdō, ōrdinis, m.	arrangement, order, rank; ex ōrdine, in order
impellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsus	drive or urge on, incite, urge
iactō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	toss about; discuss
tueor, -ērī, tuitus sum	watch over, protect, defend
dēbeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	owe; with infin., ought
adhortor, -ārī, -ātus sum	encourage, urge on
libenter, adv.	willingly, gladly
pāreō, -ēre, -uī	obey
contumāciter (adv.)	stubbornly, defiantly, insolently
doceo, -ēre, -uī, -tus	teach, explain
sequor, sequī, secūtus	follow
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātus	bear, bring
nunc, adv.	now
disputātiō, -ōnis f.	argument, debate
trānseō, -īre, -iī, -itus	go across or over, cross
iūs, iūris, n.	right, justice, law; iūs dīcere, to pronounce judgment; iūs iūrandum, iūris iūrandī, oath
noster, -tra, -trum	our
prōvidentia, -ae f.	foresight
imperium, -ī, n.	command; sway, rule
seriēs, -ēī f.	row, chain, succession
illigō (inligō), -āre, -āvī, -ātus	bind, fasten, tie up
trahō, trahere, trāxī, trāctus	draw, drag
repentīnus, -a, -um	sudden
atque, ac (conj.)	and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
subitus, -a, -um	sudden
dominor, -ārī, -ātus sum	be master, rule
illō (adv.)	to that place, there
revertor, -vertī, -versus, perf. act. -vertī	turn back, return
moneō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	warn
exhortor, -ārī, -ātus sum	encourage, urge on
patior, patī, passus, bear	suffer, allow
impetus, -ūs, m.	attack; impetum facere, to charge
tuus, -a, -um	thy, thine, your
dēlābor, -lābī, -lapsus	slip or fall down
refrīgēscō, -ere, -frīxī	grow cold; cool off, lose force
contineō, -tinēre, -tinuī, -tentus	hold together, keep within, shut up in; bound
cōnstituō, -stituere, -stituī, -stitūtus	set together or up; appoint; determine
habitus, -ūs m.	condition, state; bearing, character
fīō, fierī, factus sum	be done or made, become, happen
initium, -ī, n.	beginning
bene, adv.	well; successfully
nōscō, -ere, nōvī, nōtum	get to know (perf. nōvī: know)
circumspiciō, -ere, -spexī, -spectus	look around; look around for, consider
epistula, -ae f.	letter
mūnusculum, -ī n.	small gift, little present
afferō, afferre, attulī, allātum	bring, bring to; cause
inveniō, -venīre, -vēnī, -ventus	come upon, find
mīror, -ārī, -ātus	wonder, wonder at
adhūc, adv.	to this point, up to this time, yet, still
aliēnus, -a, -um	belonging to another, out of place
līberālis, -e	befitting a free man; generous (with: gen.)
quārē (adv.)	why; for which reason
autem, conj.	moreover; but, however; now
ūllus, -a, -um	any
iste, ista, istud, dem. pron.	that of yours, that
nātūra, -ae, f.	nature, character
numquam, adv.	never
pauper, -eris	poor; as a noun, a poor person
opīniō, -ōnis, f.	opinion, expectation; reputation
dīves, dīvitis (superl. dītissimus)	rich
exiguus, -a, -um	small, scanty, short
dēsīderō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	long for, miss; require
immēnsus (inmēnsus), -a, -um	immeasurable, boundless, vast
congerō, -ere, -gessī, -gestus	heap up, bring together
locuplēs, -ētis	rich, wealthy
possideō, -sidēre, -sēdī, -sessus	hold, possess
ultrā (prep. + acc.)	beyond
prīvātus, -a, -um	private
pecūnia, -ae, f.	money (the possession of cattle constituting wealth in early times)
modus, -ī, m.	way, manner
prōvehō, -vehere, -vexī, -vectus	carry forward
aurum, -ī, n.	gold
tegō, tegere, tēxī, tēctus	cover
purpura, -ae f.	purple dye; purple cloth
vestiō, -īre, -īvī, -ītum	clothe, dress
eō (adv.)	to that place, thither; to that point (usque eō); (with comparatives) by so much, all the (more)
dēliciae, -ārum f. pl.	delights, luxuries, pleasures
ops, opis f.; pl. opēs, -um	help; (pl.) resources, wealth, power
perdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead or bring through, lead, bring
terra, -ae, f.	land, earth
marmor, -oris n.	marble; a marble statue
abscondō, -ere, -condī, -conditus	hide, conceal
tantum, adv.	so much or far, only
licet, -ēre, -uit or -itum est, impers.	is lawful or permitted
calcō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	tread on, trample
dīvitiae, -ārum f. pl.	riches, wealth
accēdō, -ere, accessī, accessum	come near, approach; be added
statua, -ae f.	statue
pictūra, -ae f.	painting, picture
ars, artis, f.	art
luxuria, -ae f.	luxury
ēlabōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	work out, produce with effort
magnus, -a, -um	large, big, great, mighty; loud
cupiō, -ere, -īvī, -ītus	desire, long for, wish
discō, discere, didicī	learn
nātūrālis, -e	natural, by nature
dēsīderium, -ī, n.	desire, longing
fīniō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	bound, limit; end
falsus, -a, -um	feigned, pretended, false
nāscor, -ī, nātus sum	be born; rise, begin
ubi, adv.	where; conj., when
dēsinō, -sinere, -siī, -situs	stop, cease (+ inf.)
nūllus, -a, -um	not any, none, no
enim, conj.	for
terminus, -ī m.	boundary, limit
via, -ae, f.	road, way
eō, īre, iī, itus	go
extrēmus, -a, -um	last, extreme, furthest
error, -ōris m.	wandering; mistake, error
retrahō, -ere, -trāxī, -tractum	drag back
ergō (adv.)	therefore, then; quid ergō? what then?
vānus, -a, -um	empty, idle, vain; in vanum: in vain
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
caecus, -a, -um	blind
cupiditās, -tātis, f.	desire, longing, eagerness
cōnsīderō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	look at closely, consider, think over
num, adv., introducing a question to which a negative answer is expected	untranslatable
alicubi (adv.)	somewhere, anywhere
cōnsistō, -sistere, -stitī, -stitus	station oneself, take one's stand; consist
longē, adv.	far
prōgredior, -gredī, -gressus	go forward, advance
semper, adv.	always
restō, -āre, restitī	stay behind, remain
valeō, -ēre, -uī, -itūrus	be strong or effectual, have effect, prevail

Seneca, Epistulae Morales 2–52. Latin text: R. M. Gummere, Seneca: Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales (Loeb, 1917–25), public domain; digital text from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English translation and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.