Seneca: You are mistaken, therefore, when you ask me…

What do you get from being a good person? The question is understandable, but it can reveal a mistaken bargain. We want virtue to pay out in promotions, praise, security, or a painless life. Sometimes it does. Often it does not. Seneca's answer is that virtue is not a means to a higher prize; it is the prize. To be honest rather than corrupt, brave rather than cowardly, fair rather than cruel—these are not empty sacrifices waiting for external compensation. They are the shape of a life you can respect from the inside. That is why no one can fully take them from you. You may lose an argument, a job, or approval while still keeping your character intact. Today, ask less often, "What will this get me?" Ask instead, "Who will this choice make me?"