"The bad fortune of the good turns their faces up to heaven; the good fortune of the bad bows their heads down to the earth"

Adversity and prosperity reveal and shape the character of those who experience them. When good people suffer misfortune, their response is to look upward, turning their attention to higher principles, meaning, and perhaps the divine. Hardship serves as a test of virtue, drawing them away from earthly concerns and encouraging reflection, humility, and resilience. In grappling with pain, loss, or injustice, the virtuous seek wisdom, comfort, or justice beyond themselves. Their struggle elevates them, as they rely on hope, faith, or inner strength to endure and maintain their moral compass.

Conversely, when those of questionable character enjoy good fortune, they become absorbed in their material success. The phrase “bows their heads down to the earth” paints a vivid image of individuals turning toward worldly gains, obsessed with pleasure, power, or wealth. Rather than seeking higher aspirations or values, the wicked become weighed down by their own greed and pride. Prosperity, instead of inspiring gratitude or generosity, reinforces their baser instincts and disconnects them from moral or spiritual growth.

Seneca’s insight urges careful observation of how people react to both fortune and misfortune. He implies that the external circumstances of life are opportunities for the revelation and cultivation, or corruption, of moral character. Good fortune does not inherently ennoble; in fact, it may degrade those ill-equipped in virtue. Misfortune, while painful, can lead to greater wisdom, humility, and reliance on higher purposes, transforming suffering into a path toward moral improvement.

Stoic philosophy frequently emphasizes that character is tested not by what happens to us, but by how we respond. By turning their “faces up to heaven,” the virtuous demonstrate inner strength and a higher vision, while the self-serving squander their luck, tethering themselves further to earthly concerns and ultimately diminishing their souls.