Seneca often used nautical metaphors, being fascinated by how sailors braved the seas. In this quote, he warns that drifting through life without direction makes every decision feel uncertain and every obstacle insurmountable. In contrast, a person with purpose turns even setbacks into opportunities. Seneca himself had to make difficult choices — from advising emperors to navigating his own exile. But what kept him centered was clarity about what kind of man he wanted to be. That clarity became his compass.