Plain
Seneca — The Senator

"Take me away, or I'll take you away!"

How completely insane he was! He must have believed either that not even Jupiter could harm him, or that he could harm Jupiter himself. I think this saying of his played a big part in giving the conspirators courage for their plot. It seemed like the limit of what anyone should have to endure — putting up with someone who wouldn't even put up with Jupiter.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 20 Book 1 · 66 of 69
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

“Carry me off, or I will carry thee!”

How great was his madness! He must have believed either that he could not be hurt even by Jupiter himself, or that he could hurt even Jupiter itself. I imagine that this saying of his had no small weight in nerving the minds of the conspirators for their task: for it seemed to be the height of endurance to bear one who could not bear Jupiter.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 20 Book 1 · 66 of 69
Seneca — The Senator

It crosses his mind that someday people will curse him, plot against him, and destroy him. What prayer does he add to this? May all the gods curse him—for finding a cure for hatred so worthy of it. "Let them hate." How? "As long as they obey me?" No! "As long as they approve of me?" No! How then? "As long as they fear me!" I wouldn't even want to be loved on those terms. Do you think this was a brave saying? You're wrong. This isn't greatness—it's monstrous. You shouldn't believe the words of angry men. Their speech is loud and threatening, but their minds are as cowardly as possible. And don't think that even the most eloquent writer, Titus Livius, was right when he described someone as having "a great rather than a good character." These things can't be separated. A person must either be good or they cannot be great. I define greatness of mind as something unshaken, sound throughout, firm and consistent to its very foundation. This kind of greatness cannot exist in evil characters.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 20 Book 1 · 65 of 69
Doing The Right Thing Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

It occurs to his mind that some day people will curse him, plot against him, crush him: what prayer does he add to this? May all the gods curse him—for discovering a cure for hate so worthy of it. “Let them hate.” How? “Provided they obey me?” No! “Provided they approve of me?” No! How then? “Provided they fear me!” I would not even be loved upon such terms. Do you imagine that this was a very spirited saying? You are wrong: this is not greatness, but monstrosity. You should not believe the words of angry men, whose speech is very loud and menacing, while their mind within them is as timid as possible: nor need you suppose that the most eloquent of men, Titus Livius, was right in describing somebody as being “of a great rather than a good disposition.” The things cannot be separated: he must either be good or else he cannot be great, because I take greatness of mind to mean that it is unshaken, sound throughout, firm and uniform to its very foundation; such as cannot exist in evil dispositions.

On Anger, Book 1, Section 20 Book 1 · 65 of 69
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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