The main idea of the work concerns the ability of man to face adverse conditions in his life. Plutarch argues that there is no specific type of life in which sorrow is absent, given that sorrow and distress are inherent states of life and have nothing to do with one's social status, education, money, or choice of another way of life. What really matters is for wisdom and reason to prevail in one's life, as only then can a person be led to a pleasant life. That is, not by being indifferent to what happens to him each time, but by being able to control his emotions with reason and to use everything that happens, even if it is something negative, for his own benefit. Additionally, he argues, we should not have our minds focused on the unpleasant things that happen to us, but we should think about the positives that life offers, even when situations that cause us sadness occur. Whatever we have in our lives, no matter how small and insignificant we consider it to be, can make us happy. The cause of happiness, Plutarch says, lies within us. We should understand that in life many unexpected and bad events may happen to us, such as, for example, getting seriously ill, losing our wealth, or losing a loved one. However, happiness is not the result of external factors, but is rooted in the soul of man. With reason - and self-knowledge - man understands the turbulent nature of life, is grateful for what he has experienced, and looks to the future without fear, living and understanding life as it truly is: as the ultimate mysterious initiation that exudes joy.