On Anger, Book 1, Section 11 — In Plain English

Seneca — The Senator

How did Fabius save Rome when its armies were crushed? By knowing how to wait and take his time — something angry men never know how to do. The empire was on its deathbed. If Fabius had been as reckless as his anger wanted him to be, Rome would have died with it. But he thought carefully about the situation. He counted his forces and realized he couldn't lose a single man without losing everything. So he put aside thoughts of grief and revenge. He focused only on what would actually help and on making the most of his chances. He conquered his anger before he conquered Hannibal. What about Scipio? He left Hannibal and the entire Carthaginian army behind — all the people he had every right to be furious with. Instead, he took the war to Africa, moving so deliberately that his enemies thought he was soft and lazy.

Seneca — The Senator Original

By what did Fabius restore the shattered forces of the state, except by knowing how to delay and spin out time, which angry men know not how to do? The empire, which then was at its last gasp, would have perished if Fabius had been as daring as anger urged him to be: but he took thought about the condition of affairs, and after counting his force, no part of which could be lost without everything being lost with it, he laid aside thoughts of grief and revenge, turning his sole attention to what was profitable and to making the most of his opportunities, and conquered his anger before he conquered Hannibal. What did Scipio do? Did he not leave behind Hannibal and the Carthaginian army, and all with whom he had a right to be angry, and carry over the war into Africa with such deliberation that he made his enemies think him luxurious and lazy?