Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Why should I go through specific examples? Just know this: when you see the Forum packed with crowds, the voting grounds swarming with people, or the great Circus where most of the population gathers at once, there are as many vices as there are people. Among those you see dressed in peaceful clothes, there is no peace. For a tiny profit, any one of them will try to destroy another. No one can gain anything without someone else losing.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 17 of 103
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

Why need I dwell upon individual cases? Be assured, when you see the Forum crowded with a multitude, the Saepta[4] swarming with people, or the great Circus, in which the greater part of the people find room to show themselves at once, that among them there are as many vices as there are men. Among those whom you see in the garb of peace there is no peace: for a small profit any one of them will attempt the ruin of another: no one can gain anything save by another’s loss.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 17 of 103
Seneca — The Senator

The wise man will collapse if he tries to get angry every time reason demands it. Look at all those thousands rushing to the courthouses at dawn. Their cases are shameful, and their lawyers are even worse. One person contests his father's will when he should have just earned his inheritance. Another accuses his own mother of crimes. A third informs on someone for the exact crime he himself is more obviously guilty of. Even the judge is chosen to punish people for doing what he has done himself. And the audience sides with whoever has the smoothest-talking lawyer.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 7 Book 2 · 16 of 103
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

He will faint, if he demands anger from himself as often as reason calls for it. All these thousands who are hurrying to the law courts at break of day, how base are their causes, and how much baser their advocates? One impugns his father’s will, when he would have done better to deserve it; another appears as the accuser of his mother; a third comes to inform against a man for committing the very crime of which he himself is yet more notoriously guilty. The judge, too, is chosen to condemn men for doing what he himself has done, and the audience takes the wrong side, led astray by the fine voice of the pleader.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 7 Book 2 · 16 of 103
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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