Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Life is precious and can't be wasted. We have no extra time to throw away. So why do we rush into fights? Why do we go looking for arguments? Why do we forget how fragile we are and start huge battles with other people? We're weak, yet we use all our energy trying to destroy each other. Soon enough, fever or some other illness will make us too sick to keep up this war of hatred we fight so ruthlessly. Death will soon separate even the strongest fighters. Why do we cause trouble and spend our lives in chaos? Fate hangs over us, keeping score of each passing day, getting closer and closer. The time you've planned for someone else's death might include your own.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 42 Book 3 · 117 of 121
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

Life is a matter which does not admit of waste, and we have no spare time to throw away. Why do we rush into the fray? why do we go out of our way to seek disputes? why do we, forgetful of the weakness of our nature, undertake mighty feuds, and, frail though we be, summon up all our strength to cut down other men? Ere long, fever or some other bodily ailment will make us unable to carry on this warfare of hatred which we so implacably wage: death will soon part the most vigorous pair of combatants. Why do we make disturbances and spend our lives in rioting? fate hangs over our heads, scores up to our account the days as they pass, and is ever drawing nearer and nearer. The time which you have marked for the death of another perhaps includes your own.”

On Anger, Book 3, Section 42 Book 3 · 117 of 121
Seneca — The Senator

Let's free ourselves from this evil. Let's clear it from our minds and tear it out by the roots — this passion that grows back whenever even the smallest piece of it finds a place to rest. Don't try to moderate anger. Get rid of it completely. What good is moderation when dealing with an evil habit? We can do this if we just try. Nothing will help more than remembering we are mortal. Let each person say to himself and to others: "Why should we waste our tiny span of life being angry at anyone, as if we were born to live forever? Why should we spend days that could be filled with honorable enjoyment on grieving and torturing others instead?"

On Anger, Book 3, Section 42 Book 3 · 116 of 121
Facing Hardship Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

Let us be free from this evil, let us clear our minds of it, and extirpate root and branch a passion which grows again wherever the smallest particle of it finds a resting-place. Let us not moderate anger, but get rid of it altogether: what can moderation have to do with an evil habit? We shall succeed in doing this, if only we exert ourselves. Nothing will be of greater service than to bear in mind that we are mortal: let each man say to himself and to his neighbour, “Why should we, as though we were born to live for ever, waste our tiny span of life in declaring anger against any one? why should days, which we might spend in honourable enjoyment, be misapplied in grieving and torturing others?

On Anger, Book 3, Section 42 Book 3 · 116 of 121
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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