Plain
Seneca — The Senator

The best approach is to prepare for obstacles ahead of time when you know your weaknesses. Above all, you need to calm your mind so it can handle sudden, violent shocks without getting angry. Or if anger does flare up because of some unexpected wrong, you can bury it deep and not show your wound. This is possible to do. I'll share some examples from many I could choose. These will show two things: how much damage anger causes when it has complete control over powerful people, and how well it can be controlled when fear keeps it in check.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 13 Book 3 · 44 of 121
Calm Your Mind Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

It is best to prepare obstacles beforehand for vices which are known, and above all things so to tranquilize our mind that it may bear the most sudden and violent shocks either without feeling anger, or, if anger be provoked by the extent of some unexpected wrong, that it may bury it deep, and not betray its wound. That it is possible to do this will be seen, if I quote a few of an abundance of examples, from which we may learn both how much evil there is in anger, when it exercises entire dominion over men in supreme power, and how completely it can control itself when overawed by fear.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 13 Book 3 · 44 of 121
Seneca — The Senator

How much more do we need to do this? Let's ask our best friends to give us their honest opinion, especially when we least want to hear it. They should never just go along with us when we're angry. While we're thinking clearly and have control of ourselves, let's ask for help against such a powerful enemy — one that we wrongly think is our friend. People who can't handle their wine well, and worry they might do something rash or rude, tell their servants to take them away from dinner parties when they're drunk. Those who know from experience how unreasonable they become when sick give orders that no one should obey them when they're ill.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 13 Book 3 · 43 of 121
Calm Your Mind Knowing Yourself
Seneca — The Senator Original

How much more needful is it for us to do this? let us beg all our best friends to give us their opinion with the greatest freedom at the very time when we can bear it least, and never to be compliant with us when we are angry. While we are in our right senses, while we are under our own control, let us call for help against so powerful an evil, and one which we regard with such unjust favour. Those who cannot carry their wine discreetly, and fear to be betrayed into some rash and insolent act, give their slaves orders to take them away from the banquet when they are drunk; those who know by experience how unreasonable they are when sick give orders that no one is to obey them when they are in ill health.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 13 Book 3 · 43 of 121
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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