On the Shortness of Life, Section 20

Seneca — The Senator

So when you see someone wearing the purple robes of high office, when you hear their name announced again and again in the forum, don't be jealous. They bought these honors by trading away most of their life. People throw away all their years just to have one year named after them as consul. Some die in the early stages of this struggle, never reaching the heights they dreamed of. Others endure a thousand humiliations to reach that crowning moment of dignity, only to realize with horror that all their work will amount to nothing more than words carved on their tombstone.

Seneca — The Senator Original

When, therefore, you see a man often wear the purple robes of office, and hear his name often repeated in the forum, do not envy him: he gains these things by losing so much of his life. Men throw away all their years in order to have one year named after them as consul: some lose their lives during the early part of the struggle, and never reach the height to which they aspired: some after having submitted to a thousand indignities in order to reach the crowning dignity, have the miserable reflexion that the only result of their labours will be the inscription on their tombstone.