Plain
Seneca — The Senator

They hate successful people and look down on the unfortunate. They resent those in power and crush those beneath them. They chase after every kind of desire. They would destroy everything for a little pleasure or profit. They live like gladiators in training — fighting with the very people they share their lives with. It's like a pack of wild animals, except that beasts are gentle with their own kind and don't attack their own species. But humans tear each other apart and devour one another. They differ from dumb animals in this one way: animals are tame with those who feed them, but human rage attacks the very people who raised them.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 18 of 103
Human Nature Facing Hardship
Seneca — The Senator Original

They hate the fortunate and despise the unfortunate: they grudgingly endure the great, and oppress the small: they are fired by divers lusts: they would wreck everything for the sake of a little pleasure or plunder: they live as though they were in a school of gladiators, fighting with the same people with whom they live: it is like a society of wild beasts, save that beasts are tame with one another, and refrain from biting their own species, whereas men tear one another, and gorge themselves upon one another. They differ from dumb animals in this alone, that the latter are tame with those who feed them, whereas the rage of the former preys on those very persons by whom they were brought up.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 18 of 103
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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