Plain
Seneca — The Senator

"It's impossible," he says, "to completely remove anger from the mind. Human nature won't allow it." But there's nothing so hard that the human mind can't overcome it. With constant practice, we can become familiar with anything. No passion is so fierce that it can't be tamed by discipline. The mind can carry out whatever orders it gives itself. Some people have succeeded in never smiling. Others have given up wine, sex, or even all drinks.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 12 Book 2 · 30 of 103
Knowing Yourself Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

“It is not possible,” says he, “to remove anger altogether from the mind, nor does human nature admit of it.” Yet there is nothing so hard and difficult that the mind of man cannot overcome it, and with which unremitting study will not render him familiar, nor are there any passions so fierce and independent that they cannot be tamed by discipline. The mind can carry out whatever orders it gives itself: some have succeeded in never smiling: some have forbidden themselves wine, sexual intercourse, or even drink of all kinds.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 12 Book 2 · 30 of 103
Seneca — The Senator

"You can't remove wickedness from the world," our opponent argues, "so you can't remove anger either. And neither one is possible anyway." But here's my first point: a person doesn't have to be cold just because it's winter by nature's calendar. And they don't have to sweat just because it's officially summer. You can find shelter from bad weather by choosing where to live. Or you can train your body to handle both heat and cold. Now let me flip this argument around: You must remove anger from your mind before you can let virtue in. Vices and virtues can't live together. You can't be an angry person and a good person at the same time — any more than you can be sick and healthy at once.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 12 Book 2 · 29 of 103
Doing The Right Thing Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

“Wickedness,” says our adversary, “must be removed from the system of nature, if you wish to remove anger: neither of which things can be done.” In the first place, it is possible for a man not to be cold, although according to the system of nature it may be winter-time, nor yet to suffer from heat, although it be summer according to the almanac. He may be protected against the inclement time of the year by dwelling in a favoured spot, or he may have so trained his body to endurance that it feels neither heat nor cold. Next, reverse this saying:—You must remove anger from your mind before you can take virtue into the same, because vices and virtues cannot combine, and none can at the same time be both an angry man and a good man, any more than he can be both sick and well.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 12 Book 2 · 29 of 103
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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