Plain
Seneca — The Senator

When a sick man gets a sudden burst of strength from his illness, that strength doesn't last and isn't healthy. It's only strong enough to destroy itself. So don't think I'm wasting time attacking anger as if everyone already agrees it's bad. There's actually a famous philosopher who thinks anger has its uses. He says it gives us energy for battles, for handling business, and for anything that needs to be done with passion.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 3 Book 3 · 11 of 121
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

The strength which a sick man owes to a paroxysm of disease is neither lasting nor wholesome, and is strong only to its own destruction. You need not, therefore, imagine that I am wasting time over a useless task in defaming anger, as though men had not made up their minds about it, when there is some one, and he, too, an illustrious philosopher, who assigns it services to perform, and speaks of it as useful and supplying energy for battles, for the management of business, and indeed for everything which requires to be conducted with spirit.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 3 Book 3 · 11 of 121
Seneca — The Senator

So tell me — can anyone call this person sane? He's like someone caught in a hurricane. He doesn't walk; he gets dragged along. He's enslaved by mindless fury. He won't let anyone else handle his revenge. He has to do it himself, raging in both thought and action. He butchers the people he loves most — the same people he'll soon be crying over. Would anyone want this passion as virtue's helper and companion? It destroys calm reasoning, and virtue can't do anything without that.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 3 Book 3 · 10 of 121
Calm Your Mind Facing Hardship
Seneca — The Senator Original

What, then? can any one call this man sane, who, as though caught up by a hurricane, does not go but is driven, and is the slave of a senseless disorder? He does not commit to another the duty of revenging him, but himself exacts it, raging alike in thought and deed, butchering those who are dearest to him, and for whose loss he himself will ere long weep. Will any one give this passion as an assistant and companion to virtue, although it disturbs calm reason, without which virtue can do nothing?

On Anger, Book 3, Section 3 Book 3 · 10 of 121
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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