Plain
Seneca — The Senator

No one, I insist, will be found who can claim they're completely innocent. When people call themselves innocent, they're looking for others to back them up rather than honestly examining their own conscience. How much kinder it is to treat people who make mistakes with gentleness and a fatherly spirit. Guide them back to the right path instead of hunting them down like criminals. When someone is wandering through our fields because they've lost their way, it's better to show them the right path than to chase them off.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 14 Book 1 · 42 of 69
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

No one, I affirm, will be found who can acquit himself. Every one when he calls himself innocent looks rather to external witnesses than to his own conscience. How much more philanthropic it is to deal with the erring in a gentle and fatherly spirit, and to call them into the right course instead of hunting them down? When a man is wandering about our fields because he has lost his way, it is better to place him on the right path than to drive him away.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 14 Book 1 · 42 of 69
Seneca — The Senator

Theophrastus claims that a good person must be angry with bad people. If that's true, then the better someone is, the angrier they should be. But wouldn't a truly good person be more calm and peaceful instead? Would they really hate anyone?

Why should you hate people who sin? They're just making mistakes. Error leads them into crimes. It doesn't make sense for a wise person to hate people who make errors. If you did that, you'd have to hate yourself too. Think about how many things you do against good morals. Think about how much you've done that needs forgiveness. Soon you'll be angry with yourself as well. After all, no fair judge uses different standards for himself than he uses for others.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 14 Book 1 · 41 of 69
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

It is impossible, says Theophrastus, for a good man not to be angry with bad men. By this reasoning, the better a man is, the more irascible he will be: yet will he not rather be more tranquil, more free from passions, and hating no one: indeed, what reason has he for hating sinners, since it is error that leads them into such crimes? now it does not become a sensible man to hate the erring, since if so he will hate himself: let him think how many things he does contrary to good morals, how much of what he has done stands in need of pardon, and he will soon become angry with himself also, for no righteous judge pronounces a different judgment in his own case and in that of others.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 14 Book 1 · 41 of 69
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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