Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Another benefit is that tiny, worthless things won't drive you crazy anymore. It's pure madness to get angry because a servant is slow, or your drinking water isn't the right temperature, or your bed is messy, or someone set the table carelessly. A person must be terribly sick if a light breeze bothers him. His eyes must be diseased if white clothes hurt to look at. He must be worn out from partying if it pains him to watch someone else work.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 25 Book 2 · 60 of 103
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

Another consequence of this will be, that we shall not be exasperated by the slightest and most contemptible trifles. It is mere madness to be put out of temper because a slave is not quick, because the water we are going to drink is lukewarm, or because our couch is disarranged or our table carelessly laid. A man must be in a miserably bad state of health if he shrinks from a gentle breath of wind; his eyes must be diseased if they are distressed by the sight of white clothing; he must be broken down with debauchery if he feels pain at seeing another man work.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 25 Book 2 · 60 of 103
Seneca — The Senator

Being too quick to believe what we hear causes enormous trouble. Often we shouldn't even listen, because sometimes it's better to be fooled than to always suspect people are lying. We need to free our minds from suspicion and mistrust — those unreliable sources of anger. "That person barely said hello to me. This one wouldn't let me kiss their cheek. Someone cut me off when I was telling a story. Another person didn't invite me to dinner. That one seemed disgusted by me." Suspicion will always find reasons to exist. What we need instead is honesty and a generous way of seeing things. Let's believe nothing unless it's right in front of us and unmistakable. And let's scold ourselves for being too ready to believe rumors whenever our suspicions turn out to be wrong. This practice will make us naturally slow to believe what we hear.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 24 Book 2 · 59 of 103
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

Readiness to believe what we hear causes very great mischief; we ought often not even to listen, because in some cases it is better to be deceived than to suspect deceit. We ought to free our minds of suspicion and mistrust, those most untrustworthy causes of anger. “This man’s greeting was far from civil; that one would not receive my kiss; one cut short a story I had begun to tell; another did not ask me to dinner; another seemed to view me with aversion.” Suspicion will never lack grounds: what we want is straightforwardness, and a kindly interpretation of things. Let us believe nothing unless it forces itself upon our sight and is unmistakable, and let us reprove ourselves for being too ready to believe, as often as our suspicions prove to be groundless: for this discipline will render us habitually slow to believe what we hear.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 24 Book 2 · 59 of 103
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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