Plain
Seneca — The Senator

You'll realize that getting angry at people's flaws makes no sense. Would you get angry at someone who trips in the dark? Or at a deaf person who can't hear your commands? Or at children who forget their chores because they're playing games with their friends? Would you really get angry at sick people for being weak, or at old people for aging, or at tired people for getting worn out? Among all of humanity's problems is this one: our minds are confused. We can't help making mistakes, and we actually enjoy making them. If you want to stop being angry at individuals, you have to forgive everyone. You have to forgive the entire human race. If you get angry at young people and old people for doing wrong, you might as well get angry at babies too — because they'll mess up soon enough.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 10 Book 2 · 22 of 103
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Seneca — The Senator Original

You will rather think that we should not be angry with people's faults; for what shall we say of one who is angry with those who stumble in the dark, or with deaf people who cannot hear his orders, or with children, because they forget their duty and interest themselves in the games and silly jokes of their companions? What shall we say if you choose to be angry with weaklings for being sick, for growing old, or becoming fatigued? Among the other misfortunes of humanity is this, that men's intellects are confused, and they not only cannot help going wrong, but love to go wrong. To avoid being angry with individuals, you must pardon the whole mass, you must grant forgiveness to the entire human race. If you are angry with young and old men because they do wrong, you will be angry with infants also, for they soon will do wrong.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 10 Book 2 · 22 of 103
Seneca — The Senator

Add to these: governments breaking their word, treaties torn up, the strong stealing from anyone who can't fight back. Add corruption, theft, fraud, and people refusing to pay their debts — so much that three of our courts couldn't handle it all. If you want the wise man to get as angry as people's crimes deserve, he wouldn't just be angry. He'd go completely insane with rage.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 9 Book 2 · 21 of 103
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Seneca — The Senator Original

. . . . Add to these, public acts of national bad faith, broken treaties, everything that cannot defend itself carried off as plunder by the stronger, knaveries, thefts, frauds, and disownings of debt such as three of our present law-courts would not suffice to deal with. If you want the wise man to be as angry as the atrocity of men's crimes requires, he must not merely be angry, but must go mad with rage.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 9 Book 2 · 21 of 103
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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