“Why do we complain of Nature? She has shown herself kindly; life, if you know how to use it, is long.”Seneca · Despre scurtimea vieții · 49 · capitolul 2
Life is not short; we make it short by wasting it.
The line shifts the blame from nature to ourselves. Nature was not stingy: she gave each of us enough time for a good life. What makes life short is waste, not the calendar. Seneca proposes a change of perspective: instead of accusing the human condition, look at your own habits. Someone who spends evenings in pointless quarrels and mornings in procrastination has a short life that he cut himself.
Why it matters It helps anyone tempted to blame fate or lack of time. The honest answer often lies in one's own schedule, not in destiny.