“Whatever fortune has raised to a height, she has raised only to cast it down.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“Whatever fortune has raised to a height, she has raised only to cast it down.”
Explanation
Fortune is fickle, and her gifts often come with the seeds of future downfall. Seneca the Younger cautions that those elevated by chance, wealth, or fame should not expect lasting security, for what fortune gives freely, she can take away just as suddenly. The higher the rise, the more dramatic—and inevitable—the fall.
This Stoic warning reflects the belief that external goods, like status or power, are unstable and should not be relied upon for happiness. Seneca teaches that trusting in fortune is to build one’s life on shifting ground, where every success carries within it the risk of collapse. True stability, by contrast, comes from inner virtue, self-control, and philosophical detachment from external highs and lows.
In today’s world of volatile success and public acclaim, this insight is as timely as ever. Fame, wealth, and influence may appear desirable, but they often come with insecurity, pressure, and sudden reversals. Seneca’s wisdom reminds us to seek greatness not in what fortune gives, but in what cannot be taken away: character, wisdom, and a soul unshaken by rise or fall.
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