Plain
Seneca — The Senator

"But," our opponent argues, "some people control themselves when they're angry." Do they control themselves so well that they do nothing anger tells them to do? Or do they still do some of what anger demands? If they do nothing that anger dictates, then it's clear that anger isn't necessary for handling business — even though your school claims anger is stronger than reason. Finally, let me ask you this: is anger stronger than reason, or weaker? If it's stronger, how can reason control it at all? Only weaker forces obey stronger ones. But if anger is weaker than reason, then reason can accomplish its goals without anger's help. It doesn't need assistance from something less powerful.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 8 Book 1 · 24 of 69
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

"But," argues our adversary, "some men when in anger control themselves." Do they so far control themselves that they do nothing which anger dictates, or some what? If they do nothing thereof, it becomes evident that anger is not essential to the conduct of affairs, although your sect advocated it as possessing greater strength than reason . . . . Finally, I ask, is anger stronger or weaker than reason? If stronger, how can reason impose any check upon it, since it is only the less powerful that obey: if weaker, then reason is competent to effect its ends without anger, and does not need the help of a less powerful quality.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 8 Book 1 · 24 of 69
Seneca — The Senator

Your mind can't step back and watch its own emotions like an outside observer. It can't decide when to let them go too far. Instead, your mind becomes the emotion itself. Once that happens, it can't control what used to be healthy strength — now twisted and misused. Passion and reason aren't separate kingdoms in your head. They're just your mind changing for better or worse. So how can reason save itself once anger has beaten it down? How can it untangle itself from this messy mix where the worst parts have taken over?

On Anger, Book 1, Section 8 Book 1 · 23 of 69
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

The mind does not stand apart and view its passions from without, so as not to permit them to advance further than they ought, but it is itself changed into a passion, and is therefore unable to check what once was useful and wholesome strength, now that it has become degenerate and misapplied: for passion and reason, as I said before, have not distinct and separate provinces, but consist of the changes of the mind itself for better or for worse. How then can reason recover itself when it is conquered and held down by vices, when it has given way to anger? or how can it extricate itself from a confused mixture, the greater part of which consists of the lower qualities?

On Anger, Book 1, Section 8 Book 1 · 23 of 69
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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