Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Let reason work with the senses to find truth. Draw your first principles from what you observe — you have no other starting point. You must fall back on yourself. Even the universe itself and the God who guides it reaches out into all things, but then returns completely back to itself. Our minds should do the same thing. When your mind follows your senses out into the world, it should still remain master of them and of itself.

On the Happy Life, Section 8 28 of 101
Knowing Yourself Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

Let reason be encouraged by the senses to seek for the truth, and draw its first principles from thence: indeed it has no other base of operations or place from which to start in pursuit of truth: it must fall back upon itself. Even the all-embracing universe and God who is its guide extends himself forth into outward things, and yet altogether returns from all sides back to himself. Let our mind do the same thing: when, following its bodily senses it has by means of them sent itself forth into the things of the outward world, let it remain still their master and its own.

On the Happy Life, Section 8 28 of 101
Seneca — The Senator

A person should stay neutral and not let outside forces control them. You should respect yourself above all else. Trust your own judgment. Live your life ready for both good times and hard times. Don't be confident without knowledge, and don't have knowledge without the strength to stick with it. Once you decide something, stick with it. Don't keep changing your principles. You can tell that someone like this will be calm and steady. They will act with dignity and kindness.

On the Happy Life, Section 8 27 of 101
Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

A man should be unbiassed and not to be conquered by external things: he ought to admire himself alone, to feel confidence in his own spirit, and so to order his life as to be ready alike for good or for bad fortune. Let not his confidence be without knowledge, nor his knowledge without steadfastness: let him always abide by what he has once determined, and let there be no erasure in his doctrines. It will be understood, even though I append it not, that such a man will be tranquil and composed in his demeanour, high-minded and courteous in his actions.

On the Happy Life, Section 8 27 of 101
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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