"Believe me, that was a happy age, before the days of architects, before the days of builders"
- Seneca the Younger
About this Quote
This quote by Lucius Annaeus Seneca speaks with a time prior to the days of architects and home builders, a time he thinks was a happy age. He is likely describing a time before the industrial revolution, when individuals resided in easier, more rural settings. People were more linked to nature and the land, and their lives were less made complex. They were able to develop their own homes and structures, and they had a greater sense of self-sufficiency. They were likewise more linked to their communities, and their lives were more focused on relationships and household. This quote speaks to the concept that life was simpler and more significant prior to the days of architects and builders, which this was a better time. Seneca's words remind us of the significance of simplicity and connection to the land and to our communities.
"My sorrow, when she's here with me, thinks these dark days of autumn rain are beautiful as days can be; she loves the bare, the withered tree; she walks the sodden pasture lane"
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time"
"I was married to Margaret Joan Howe in 1940. Although not a scientist herself she has contributed more to my work than anyone else by providing a peaceful and happy home"
