HomeQuotesSeneca
Stoic philosophy
Fire tests gold; adversity tests brave men.
Seneca
De Providentia (On Providence), Section 5.9 (c. 62 AD)
Stoic philosophy
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What this means, and why it matters to a father

De Providentia — 'On Providence' — is Seneca's essay for a friend who could not understand why good men suffer. Why does hardship come to those who least deserve it? Seneca's answer is this: the fire does not destroy gold, it proves it.

There is more to this one. The full context — the events behind the words, what the author was living through, and how it applies to the specific situations of fatherhood — is in the app under Deeper Understanding.

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The right words for exactly where you are right now.

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