“As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.”
Explanation
The worth of life, like a story, lies in its substance—not its length. Seneca the Younger reminds us that a short life lived with purpose, virtue, and meaning is far more valuable than a long one filled with triviality or regret. Just as a well-crafted tale can be brief yet profound, a good life does not depend on duration but on depth.
This idea is a core tenet of Stoic philosophy, which teaches that the quality of our choices, not the quantity of our days, defines our legacy. Seneca believed that living well means living in alignment with reason and virtue, and that to fear death or obsess over longevity is to misunderstand what makes life truly meaningful.
In our time, where the length of life is often equated with success or fulfillment, this quote offers a corrective. It urges us to focus not on how long we live, but on how we live. Seneca’s wisdom calls us to fill our days with integrity, courage, and compassion—so that whether the tale is long or short, it is worth remembering.
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