Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Maybe anger isn't natural, but shouldn't we still use it because it's often helpful? It stirs up our spirit and gets us excited. Courage can't do anything great in war without anger — unless that flame comes from this source. This is what pushes brave people forward and sends them into danger. So some people think it's best to control anger, not get rid of it completely. They say we should just cut off the excessive parts and force it to stay within useful limits. That way we keep the part we need — because without it, our actions become weak and all our mental strength and energy dies away.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 7 Book 1 · 19 of 69
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

May it not be that, although anger be not natural, it may be right to adopt it, because it often proves useful? It rouses the spirit and excites it; and courage does nothing grand in war without it, unless its flame be supplied from this source; this is the goad which stirs up bold men and sends them to encounter perils. Some therefore consider it to be best to control anger, not to banish it utterly, but to cut off its extravagances, and force it to keep within useful bounds, so as to retain that part of it without which action will become languid and all strength and activity of mind will die away.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 7 Book 1 · 19 of 69
Seneca — The Senator

Human nature doesn't want to hurt others. So anger can't be part of human nature, since anger wants to hurt people. Let me also use Plato's argument here — why not borrow from others when they support our point? Plato says: "A good person doesn't hurt anyone. Only punishment hurts people. So punishment doesn't fit with being a good person. And since punishment and anger go together, anger doesn't fit either. If a good person takes no pleasure in punishment, then he won't enjoy the feeling that makes punishment pleasurable. Therefore, anger isn't natural to humans."

On Anger, Book 1, Section 6 Book 1 · 18 of 69
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

Man’s nature is not, therefore, desirous of inflicting punishment; neither, therefore, is anger in accordance with man’s nature, because that is desirous of inflicting punishment. I will also adduce Plato’s argument—for what harm is there in using other men’s arguments, so far as they are on our side? “A good man,” says he, “does not do any hurt: it is only punishment which hurts. Punishment, therefore, does not accord with a good man: wherefore anger does not do so either, because punishment and anger accord one with another. If a good man takes no pleasure in punishment, he will also take no pleasure in that state of mind to which punishment gives pleasure: consequently anger is not natural to man.”

On Anger, Book 1, Section 6 Book 1 · 18 of 69
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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