Plain
Seneca — The Senator

"But," our opponent says, "the mind will have its own pleasures too." Fine, let it have them. Let the mind be the judge of luxury and pleasure. Let it dive headfirst into everything that feels good to the body. Then let it look back on what it enjoyed before. With all those faded thrills fresh in memory, let it celebrate and eagerly wait for those old pleasures it plans to experience again. And while the body lies there stuffed and helpless in the present moment, let the mind send its thoughts racing toward the future and count up its hopes:

On the Happy Life, Section 6 19 of 101
What Matters Most Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

“But,” says our adversary, “the mind also will have pleasures of its own.” Let it have them, then, and let it sit in judgment over luxury and pleasures; let it indulge itself to the full in all those matters which give sensual delights: then let it look back upon what it enjoyed before, and with all those faded sensualities fresh in its memory let it rejoice and look eagerly forward to those other pleasures which it experienced long ago, and intends to experience again, and while the body lies in helpless repletion in the present, let it send its thoughts onward towards the future, and take stock of its hopes:

On the Happy Life, Section 6 19 of 101
Seneca — The Senator

No one can be called happy if they live apart from truth. A happy life never changes because it rests on clear, reliable judgment. The mind stays pure and free from all harm only when it can avoid not just deep wounds but even small scratches. It must always hold its ground and defend itself, even when Fortune attacks with fury. Think about physical pleasures — imagine they surround you completely, using every trick to win you over. They flatter your mind and try every scheme to capture all of you or just parts of you. But what person who still has any human dignity would want to be constantly entertained day and night? Who would ignore their mind just to chase bodily pleasures?

On the Happy Life, Section 5 18 of 101
Knowing Yourself What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

For no one can be styled happy who is beyond the influence of truth: and consequently a happy life is unchangeable, and is founded upon a true and trustworthy discernment; for the mind is uncontaminated and freed from all evils only when it is able to escape not merely from wounds but also from scratches, when it will always be able to maintain the position which it has taken up, and defend it even against the angry assaults of Fortune: for with regard to sensual pleasures, though they were to surround one on every side, and use every means of assault, trying to win over the mind by caresses and making trial of every conceivable stratagem to attract either our entire selves or our separate parts, yet what mortal that retains any traces of human origin would wish to be tickled day and night, and, neglecting his mind, to devote himself to bodily enjoyments?

On the Happy Life, Section 5 18 of 101
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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