“Even after a bad harvest there must be sowing.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“Even after a bad harvest there must be sowing.”
Explanation
Perseverance must continue even in the face of failure. Seneca the Younger uses the metaphor of agriculture to express a fundamental Stoic lesson: when one season ends in loss, we must still prepare for the next. A poor outcome should not deter us from continuing our efforts, for hope, discipline, and resilience are cultivated through repetition and resolve.
In Stoic thought, external results are secondary to the virtue of consistent action. Whether we succeed or fail is often beyond our control, but our response is always ours to govern. To “sow” again after a “bad harvest” is to maintain faith in process, to act not because success is guaranteed, but because it is right to do so. This reflects the Stoic commitment to purposeful effort regardless of reward.
In the modern world, this quote applies to countless situations—after a business failure, a personal loss, or a creative setback. Seneca’s wisdom reminds us that failure is not a reason to stop, but a reason to continue with greater clarity and humility. Growth, whether literal or spiritual, depends on the courage to begin again.
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