We are troubled more often by what we imagine than by what is real.
Where this comes from
Seneca wrote this to Lucilius nearly 2,000 years ago, in a letter about fears. More things frighten us than actually hurt us, he wrote, and much of the suffering happens in our heads, before anything has happened at all.
How you could say it to a five-year-old
“Swim lesson feels scary, huh? That’s tomorrow. Right now you’re safe in your bed.”
Seneca, Letters 13.4. We put these lines into plain English ourselves, staying close to the original and to public-domain translations.
The story behind this line
The book behind this lineThe Wise FriendMore on big feelings
Ready for the whole story?The Wise FriendWant the next one?
We’ll email you when new free coloring pages and printables are ready. Nothing else.