4.
You may consider that the same thing happens to us: life has carried some men with the greatest rapidity to the harbour, the harbour they were bound to reach even if they tarried on the way, while others it has fretted and harassed.
To such a life, as you are aware, one should not always cling.
For mere living is not a good, but living well.
Accordingly, the wise man will live as long as he ought, not as long as he can.
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the proper time to slip the cable
Location: Chapter 70, Section 4
Content:
4.
You may consider that the same thing happens to us: life has carried some men with the greatest rapidity to the harbour, the harbour they were bound to reach even if they tarried on the way, while others it has fretted and harassed.
To such a life, as you are aware, one should not always cling.
For mere living is not a good, but living well.
Accordingly, the wise man will live as long as he ought, not as long as he can.