Liberty. Seneca, Epistles 1.12.10-11

Have few needs, and recognize that all of them are only temporary. In time, we shall all take the road to freedom, passing beyond the limits of mortal life.

Sed iam debeo epistulam includere. Sic inquis sine ullo ad me peculio veniet? Noli timere: aliquid secum fert. Quare aliquid dixi? Multum. Quid enim hac voce praeclarius quam illi trado ad te perferendam? Malum est in necessitate vivere, sed in necessitate vivere necessitas nulla est. Quidni nulla sit? patent undique ad libertatem viae multae, breves faciles. Agamus deo gratias quod nemo in vita teneri potest: calcare ipsas necessitates licet. Epicurus inquis dixit: quid tibi cum alieno? Quod verum est meum est; perseverabo Epicurum tibi ingerere, ut isti qui in verba iurant nec quid dicatur aestimant, sed a quo, sciant quae optima sunt esse communia. Vale.

But now I really must put an end to this letter. "Will it come to me without any parting gift, then?" you ask. Never fear! It carries something with it right here. Something, I said? I have quite a bit to share with you, actually. For what could be better than this aphorism, which I entrust to it to deliver to you? "'Tis evil to live with needs, but living with needs is not needful." Why not? Because there are many open roads to liberty everywhere, easy to walk and short. Let's thank our god that nobody can be held forever in the grip of life. Eventually we must take the road out, trampling even our needs. "Another saying of Epicurus!" you respond. "What is it with you and foreign goods?" Whatever is true is mine. I shall continue to inflict Epicurus upon you, in order that those who swear by words, and give value to authorship rather than content, may know that all the best words are common property. Farewell.