Plain
Seneca — The Senator

The best approach is to reject the first sparks of anger right away. Fight against it from the very start. Be careful not to let it trick you into giving in. Once anger starts carrying you away, it's hard to get back to a healthy state of mind. Why? Because reason becomes useless once you let passion into your mind. Once you give it any authority by your own free choice, it will do whatever it wants — not just what you're willing to allow. I repeat: you must meet this enemy and push it back at the border. Once it enters the city and gets past the gates, it won't let its prisoners limit its victory.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 8 Book 1 · 22 of 69
Calm Your Mind Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

The best plan is to reject straightway the first incentives to anger, to resist its very beginnings, and to take care not to be betrayed into it: for if once it begins to carry us away, it is hard to get back again into a healthy condition, because reason goes for nothing when once passion has been admitted to the mind, and has by our own free will been given a certain authority, it will for the future do as much as it chooses, not only as much as you will allow it. The enemy, I repeat, must be met and driven back at the outermost frontier-line: for when he has once entered the city and passed its gates, he will not allow his prisoners to set bounds to his victory.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 8 Book 1 · 22 of 69
Seneca — The Senator

Some things start under our control, but once they get going, they take over completely. They drag us along with their own momentum and give us no way back. Think of someone who jumps off a cliff. Once they're falling, they can't control where they go. They can't slow down or change direction. Their reckless decision has left no room for second thoughts or regret. They have to go wherever gravity takes them, even if they could have avoided it. The mind works the same way. Once it gives in to anger, love, or any other strong emotion, it can't stop itself. Its own weight and the pull of vice will carry a person down and throw them into the deepest trouble.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 7 Book 1 · 21 of 69
Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

There are certain things whose beginnings lie in our own power, but which, when developed, drag us along by their own force and leave us no retreat. Those who have flung themselves over a precipice have no control over their movements, nor can they stop or slacken their pace when once started, for their own headlong and irremediable rashness has left no room for either reflexion or remorse, and they cannot help going to lengths which they might have avoided. So, also, the mind, when it has abandoned itself to anger, love, or any other passion, is unable to check itself: its own weight and the downward tendency of vices must needs carry the man off and hurl him into the lowest depth.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 7 Book 1 · 21 of 69
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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