Plain
Seneca — The Senator

If you were about to decide a court case over even a tiny amount of money, you wouldn't accept anything as fact without a witness. And you wouldn't trust a witness unless they swore an oath. You would listen to both sides. You would give them time. You wouldn't rush through it in one session, because the more you examine something, the clearer the truth becomes. So why do you condemn your friend immediately? Why are you angry with him before you hear his side, before you question him, before he even knows who accused him or what he's charged with? Just now, in that case you tried, didn't you listen to what both sides had to say?

On Anger, Book 2, Section 29 Book 2 · 77 of 103
Doing The Right Thing Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

If you were about to give sentence in court about ever so small a sum of money, you would take nothing as proved without a witness, and a witness would count for nothing except on his oath. You would allow both sides to be heard: you would allow them time: you would not despatch the matter at one sitting, because the oftener it is handled the more distinctly the truth appears. And do you condemn your friend off-hand? Are you angry with him before you hear his story, before you have cross-examined him, before he can know either who is his accuser or with what he is charged. Why then, just now, in the case which you just tried, did you hear what was said on both sides?

On Anger, Book 2, Section 29 Book 2 · 77 of 103
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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