“But the wise person can lose nothing. Such a person has everything stored up for themselves, leaving nothing to Fortune, their own goods are held firm, bound in virtue, which requires nothing from chance, and therefore can’t be either increased or diminished.”
SENECA, ON THE FIRMNESS OF THE WISE, 5.4
Some people invest in stocks and bonds, speculating on the open market. Others invest in real estate, or even cryptocurrency, to maximize their gains.
There’s one asset, however, which can’t depreciate, and is virtually bullet-proof — a 100% sure bet, in a world where nothing is guaranteed. It has absolutely the highest rate of return by far, and you get all of the dividends.
You guessed it: that greatest of investments is in yourself. Investing in yourself is immune to the whims of fortune, as Seneca points out in today’s quote from The Daily Stoic. It can’t be affected by a downturn. It can’t pay off less than you put in — by definition it always turns a profitable result.
And the payoff of investing in yourself is, in a sense, a shortcut to what is almost certainly your ultimate goal anyway.
Here’s what I mean: when we invest in financial assets, our goal is monetary gain. We’re hoping to eventually become modestly wealthy. Why? Well, if we become wealthy, we’ll be able to ensure our happiness and security. We believe that we’ll be able to purchase our way to joy and peace.
Surprise! (Or not, if you’ve been reading this site.) You can’t plan your way to happiness and peace. No amount of money will buy it. No efforts to control your circumstances will bring the calm you’re seeking.
Happiness comes from within. And if that’s the ultimate goal, why not aim directly for that? Skip the part where you’re always chasing more money and luxury. Find happiness sooner than in retirement. Invest in yourself, your virtue, and your belief in all that is good and right and true. And get the returns you truly seek.
