Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Some things make us angry because we heard them from others. Other things make us angry because we saw or heard them ourselves. We should be slow to believe what people tell us. Many people lie to deceive us. Many others lie because they've been deceived themselves. Some people make false accusations to win our favor. They invent wrongs so they can pretend to be angry on our behalf. One person lies out of spite, hoping to turn trusting friends against each other. Others lie because they're suspicious and want entertainment. They like to watch from a safe distance as people they've set against each other fight.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 29 Book 2 · 76 of 103
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Seneca — The Senator Original

We are made angry by some things which we learn at second-hand, and by some which we ourselves hear or see. Now, we ought to be slow to believe what is told us. Many tell lies in order to deceive us, and many because they are themselves deceived. Some seek to win our favour by false accusations, and invent wrongs in order that they may appear angry at our having suffered them. One man lies out of spite, that he may set trusting friends at variance; some because they are suspicious,[12] and wish to see sport, and watch from a safe distance those whom they have set by the ears.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 29 Book 2 · 76 of 103
Seneca — The Senator

The best cure for anger is to wait. When you first get angry, ask yourself for time — not to excuse what happened, but to think clearly about it. If you delay, the anger will fade. Don't try to kill it all at once, because anger hits hard at first. Pull away the pieces one by one, and the whole thing will fall apart.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 29 Book 2 · 75 of 103
Calm Your Mind Facing Hardship
Seneca — The Senator Original

The greatest remedy for anger is delay: beg anger to grant you this at the first, not in order that it may pardon the offence, but that it may form a right judgment about it: if it delays, it will come to an end. Do not attempt to quell it all at once, for its first impulses are fierce; by plucking away its parts we shall remove the whole.

On Anger, Book 2, Section 29 Book 2 · 75 of 103
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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