On Anger, Book 3, Section 37 — In Plain English

Seneca — The Senator

Be ready to put up with a lot. Are you surprised when it's cold in winter? When you get seasick? When someone bumps into you on the street? Your mind is strong enough to handle problems when it's prepared for them. But when you don't get seated in a good spot at dinner, you get angry at the other guests, at your host, and at whoever got the better seat. You fool! What difference does it make which part of the couch you're on? Can a cushion give you honor or take it away? You glare at someone because they criticized your talents. Would you apply this same rule to yourself? If so, Ennius would have hated you for not liking his poetry. Hortensius would have fought with you if you criticized his speeches. Cicero would have been your enemy if you laughed at his poems. If you're running for office, will you get upset when people don't vote for you?

Seneca — The Senator Original

Be prepared to submit to much. Is any one surprised at being cold in winter? at being sick at sea? or at being jostled in the street? The mind is strong enough to bear those evils for which it is prepared. When you are not given a sufficiently distinguished place at table you have begun to be angry with your fellow-guests, with your host, and with him who is preferred above you. Idiot! What difference can it make what part of the couch you rest upon? Can a cushion give you honour or take it away? You have looked askance at somebody because he has spoken slightingly of your talents; will you apply this rule to yourself? If so, Ennius, whose poetry you do not care for, would have hated you. Hortensius, if you had found fault with his speeches, would have quarrelled with you, and Cicero, if you had laughed at his poetry, would have been your enemy. A candidate for office, will you resent men’s votes?

Seneca — The Senator

At dinner parties, people have made jokes and comments meant to hurt you. Don't eat with lowlifes. People who aren't decent when sober become much more recklessly rude when they're drunk. You've seen your friend get furious with some lawyer's or rich man's doorkeeper because he was turned away at the door. And you got angry on your friend's behalf at this lowest of slaves. But would you really get mad at a chained watchdog? Even that dog stops barking and becomes friendly if you offer it food. So step back and smile. For now, that doorkeeper thinks he's important because he guards a door that's crowded with people trying to get in. For now, the man sitting inside feels prosperous and happy. He thinks a front door that's hard to get through shows how rich and powerful he is. He doesn't realize that the hardest door of all to open is the prison door.

Seneca — The Senator Original

At the dinner-table some jokes and sayings intended to give you pain have been directed against you: avoid feasting with low people. Those who are not modest even when sober become much more recklessly impudent after drinking. You have seen your friend in a rage with the porter of some lawyer or rich man, because he has sent him back when about to enter, and you yourself on behalf of your friend have been in a rage with the meanest of slaves. Would you then be angry with a chained housedog? Why, even he, after a long bout of barking, becomes gentle if you offer him food. So draw back and smile; for the moment your porter fancies himself to be somebody, because he guards a door which is beset by a crowd of litigants; for the moment he who sits within is prosperous and happy, and thinks that a street-door through which it is hard to gain entrance is the mark of a rich and powerful man; he knows not that the hardest door of all to open is that of the prison.