--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In truth, Serenus, I have for a long time…" description: "\"“In truth, Serenus, I have for a long time been silently asking myself to what I should liken such a condition of mind, and I can find nothing that so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/seneca-956_aftermath_in-truth-serenus-i-have-for-a-long-time_3006189.jpg" --- # In truth, Serenus, I have for a long time been silently… ![“In truth, Serenus, I have for a long time been silently asking myself to what I should liken such a condition of mind, and I can find nothing that so closely approaches it as the state of those who, after being released from a long and serious illness, are sometimes touched with fits of fever and…” quote by Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/seneca-956_aftermath_in-truth-serenus-i-have-for-a-long-time_3006189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/seneca-956_aftermath_in-truth-serenus-i-have-for-a-long-time_3006189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/seneca-956_aftermath_in-truth-serenus-i-have-for-a-long-time_3006189.jpg) > ““In truth, Serenus, I have for a long time been silently asking myself to what I should liken such a condition of mind, and I can find nothing that so closely approaches it as the state of those who, after being released from a long and serious illness, are sometimes touched with fits of fever and slight disorders, and, freed from the last traces of them, are nevertheless disquieted with mistrust, and, though now quite well, stretch out their wrist to a physician and complain unjustly of any trace of heat in their body. It is not, Serenus, that these are not quite well in body, but that they are not quite used to being well; just as even a tranquil sea will show some ripple, particularly when it has just subsided after a storm. What you need, therefore, is not any of those harsher measures which we have already left behind, the necessity of opposing yourself at this point, of being angry with yourself at that, of sternly urging yourself on at another, but that which comes last -confidence in yourself and the belief that you are on the right path, and have not been led astray by the many cross- tracks of those who are roaming in every direction, some of whom are wandering very near the path itself. But what you desire is something great and supreme and very near to being a god - to be unshaken. ”” [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes the lingering unease after recovery, urging confidence and steadiness rather than harsh self‑discipline. **In simple terms:** After illness, we feel uneasy; we need self‑confidence, not harshness. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner steadiness and trust your path. Themes self‑trust recovery inner peace resilience Mood reflective calm inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - post‑illness recovery - mental health - personal growth - overcoming anxiety - building confidence Key Concepts Stoicism psychology of healing self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice confidence without slipping into complacency? - What habits help maintain steadiness after a setback? A Different Perspective Hard self‑criticism can worsen anxiety; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aftermath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) [Body Serenus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-serenus-4796030/) [Condition Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condition-mind-1572718/) [Confidence in yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-in-yourself/) [Illness Touched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness-touched-4796031/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Mistrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistrust/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Right path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-path/) [Serious illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious-illness/) [Simons-rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simons-rock-170608/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Serenus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-serenus-4796029/) ## Related quotes > [“Suicide in the trenches: I knew a simple soldier boy Who grinned at life in empty joy, Slept soundly through the lonesome dark, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/suicide-in-the-trenches-i-knew-a-simple-soldier-boy-who-grinned-at/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [“Have you forgotten yet?... 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Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/withdraw-into-yourself-as-far-as-you-can-associate-with-those-who/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Economy is too late at the bottom of the purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/economy-is-too-late-at-the-bottom-of-the-purse/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“On Epicurus; He says: "Contended poverty is an honourable estate." Indeed, if it is contented, it is not poverty at all. 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We just had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-can-t-think-of-any-time-we-had-a-discussion-with-dre-about-the/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) [Browse all 218 Aftermath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In truth, Serenus, I have for a long time been silently asking myself to what I should liken such a condition of mind, and I can find nothing that so closely approaches it as the state of those who, after being released from a long and serious illness, are sometimes touched with fits of fever and slight disorders, and, freed from the last traces of them, are nevertheless disquieted with mistrust, and, though now quite well, stretch out their wrist to a physician and complain unjustly of any trace of heat in their body. It is not, Serenus, that these are not quite well in body, but that they are not quite used to being well; just as even a tranquil sea will show some ripple, particularly when it has just subsided after a storm. What you need, therefore, is not any of those harsher measures which we have already left behind, the necessity of opposing yourself at this point, of being angry with yourself at that, of sternly urging yourself on at another, but that which comes last -confidence in yourself and the belief that you are on the right path, and have not been led astray by the many cross- tracks of those who are roaming in every direction, some of whom are wandering very near the path itself. 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