Plain
Seneca — The Senator

When we do this, we get a strength and ability that work together as allies. This creates a kind of reasoning that never wavers between two choices or gets confused about what to believe. A mind like this — organized, with all its parts working together in harmony — has reached the highest good. It has nothing evil or dangerous left in it. Nothing can shake it or make it stumble. It will do everything guided by its own clear will. Nothing unexpected will throw it off course. Whatever it does will turn out well, quickly and easily, without any tricks or schemes. Slow, hesitant action shows internal conflict and uncertainty. So you can boldly say this: the highest good is having a unified mind. Where there's agreement and unity, the virtues must be present. It's the vices that fight with each other.

On the Happy Life, Section 8 29 of 101
Knowing Yourself Calm Your Mind
Seneca — The Senator Original

By this means we shall obtain a strength and an ability which are united and allied together, and shall derive from it that reason which never halts between two opinions, nor is dull in forming its perceptions, beliefs, or convictions. Such a mind, when it has ranged itself in order, made its various parts agree together, and, if I may so express myself, harmonized them, has attained to the highest good: for it has nothing evil or hazardous remaining, nothing to shake it or make it stumble: it will do everything under the guidance of its own will, and nothing unexpected will befal it, but whatever may be done by it will turn out well, and that, too, readily and easily, without the doer having recourse to any underhand devices: for slow and hesitating action are the signs of discord and want of settled purpose. You may, then, boldly declare that the highest good is singleness of mind: for where agreement and unity are, there must the virtues be: it is the vices that are at war one with another.

On the Happy Life, Section 8 29 of 101
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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