Seneca cuts against the common assumption that poverty is merely a lack of money—he suggests it's a condition we can either surrender to or meet with dignity. The real revelation lies in recognizing that financial success often follows from the *character* we develop when we have nothing, not the other way around. Someone who panics at scarcity, who compromises their principles to escape it, or who nurses resentment will likely squander any wealth they later acquire. A person who maintains self-respect, generosity, and clear thinking during lean times has already developed the habits that make genuine prosperity sustainable—which is why we see wealthy people lose everything while others build lasting security from small beginnings.