On Anger, Book 3, Section 4 — In Plain English

Seneca — The Senator

You ask me, where is all this leading? I'll tell you. No one should think they're safe from anger. It can turn even gentle, quiet people into savage and violent ones. Just as physical strength and good health won't protect you from a plague that strikes everyone equally, steady and good-natured people are just as likely to get angry as unstable ones. In fact, it's worse when it happens to them — more shameful and more dangerous, because it changes them so completely. Since the first goal is not to get angry, the second is to let go of anger, and the third is to heal anger in others as well as ourselves, I'll explain these in order. First, how to avoid falling into anger. Then, how to free ourselves from it. Finally, how to calm an angry person, soothe their rage, and restore their sanity.

Seneca — The Senator Original

You ask me, whither does all this tend? To prove, I answer, that no one should imagine himself to be safe from anger, seeing that it rouses up even those who are naturally gentle and quiet to commit savage and violent acts. As strength of body and assiduous care of the health avail nothing against a pestilence, which attacks the strong and weak alike, so also steady and good-humoured people are just as liable to attacks of anger as those of unsettled character, and in the case of the former it is both more to be ashamed of and more to be feared, because it makes a greater alteration in their habits. Now as the first thing is not to be angry, the second to lay aside our anger, and the third to be able to heal the anger of others as well as our own, I will set forth first how we may avoid falling into anger; next, how we may set ourselves free from it, and, lastly, how we may restrain an angry man, appease his wrath, and bring him back to his right mind.

Seneca — The Senator

By Hercules, no wild animal looks as terrifying as an angry man — not even when the beast is starving, or pierced with a spear, or using its last breath to bite its killer. If you have time, listen to what an angry person says and threatens. The words that pour from his tortured mind are awful! Wouldn't everyone want to give up anger if they saw that it starts by hurting themselves? People use anger as their most powerful weapon. They think it proves their strength. They see quick revenge as one of the best rewards of success. Don't you think I should warn them that a person enslaved by his own anger has no real power — and isn't even free? And shouldn't I especially warn the more careful and thoughtful people? Other evil emotions mostly attack low people. But anger slowly takes over the minds of even educated and otherwise wise men. This is so true that some people claim anger proves you're honest. Most people believe that good-natured folks are especially prone to it.

Seneca — The Senator Original

By Hercules, no wild beast, neither when tortured by hunger, or with a weapon struck through its vitals, not even when it gathers its last breath to bite its slayer, looks so shocking as a man raging with anger. Listen, if you have leisure, to his words and threats: how dreadful is the language of his agonized mind! Would not every man wish to lay aside anger when he sees that it begins by injuring himself? When men employ anger as the most powerful of agents, consider it to be a proof of power, and reckon a speedy revenge among the greatest blessings of great prosperity, would you not wish me to warn them that he who is the slave of his own anger is not powerful, nor even free? Would you not wish me to warn all the more industrious and circumspect of men, that while other evil passions assail the base, anger gradually obtains dominion over the minds even of learned and in other respects sensible men? So true is that, that some declare anger to be a proof of straight-forwardness, and it is commonly believed that the best-natured people are prone to it.