“I do not see why a man should be thought unhappy merely because he has been put to the test.”Seneca · Despre providență · 64 · Despre providență, Capitolul IV
Being tested does not bring unhappiness, but signals the worthiness to demonstrate virtue and to grow.
Seneca reverses the common view: instead of seeing trials as misfortunes, he argues they are signs of being valued. The gods or fate only test those deemed worthy of proving their virtue. An athlete is not unhappy because of hard training; he knows it makes him stronger. Similarly, a person facing hardships should not complain but see it as a chance to grow.
Why it matters It teaches us to stop self-pity when facing difficulties, and instead accept them as part of a formative process.