Plain
Seneca — The Senator

We get angry with people who can hurt us, and also with people who can't hurt us at all. In the second group are things that aren't even alive — like a book we throw across the room because the print is too small to read, or tear up because it's full of errors. Or clothes we rip apart because we don't like how they look. How silly it is to be angry at things like this! They don't deserve our anger, and they can't even feel it.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 26 Book 2 · 63 of 103
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

We are angry, either with those who can, or with those who cannot do us an injury. To the latter class belong some inanimate things, such as a book, which we often throw away when it is written in letters too small for us to read, or tear up when it is full of mistakes, or clothes which we destroy because we do not like them. How foolish to be angry with such things as these, which neither deserve nor feel our anger!

On Anger, Book 2, Section 26 Book 2 · 63 of 103
Seneca — The Senator

Can someone who gets upset by the sound of a bench scraping on the floor really handle the harsh words of political fights? Can they deal with the insults that politicians throw at each other in courts and government meetings? If you get angry at your servant for making your drink wrong, how will you handle real hunger or thirst on a long summer march? Nothing feeds anger more than soft, spoiled living. Your mind needs to be toughened by hardship so that only serious blows can hurt you.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 25 Book 2 · 62 of 103
Facing Hardship Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

Will one whose ears are agonised by the noise of a bench being dragged along the floor be able to endure with unruffled mind the rude language of party strife, and the abuse which speakers in the forum or the senate house heap upon their opponents? Will he who is angry with his slave for icing his drink badly, be able to endure hunger, or the thirst of a long march in summer? Nothing, therefore, nourishes anger more than excessive and dissatisfied luxury: the mind ought to be hardened by rough treatment, so as not to feel any blow that is not severe.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 25 Book 2 · 62 of 103
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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