Indeed the state of all who are preoccupied is wretched, but the most wretched are those who are toiling not even at their own preoccupations, but must regulate their sleep by another’s, and their walk by another’s pace, and obey orders in those freest of all things, loving and hating. If such people want to know how short their lives are, let them reflect how small a portion is their own.
Seneca (On the Shortness of Life pp.31-32)
Just ran into this, via. It's not everyday that I find, or read things that immediately draw me in. I'm totally getting this book.