Plain
Seneca — The Senator

I'm sure Harpagus must have given advice like this to the Persian king. The king got angry and served Harpagus his own children for dinner. He kept asking if Harpagus liked how they were prepared. When he saw that Harpagus was filled with horror at his own tragedy, the king brought out the children's heads. Then he asked how Harpagus enjoyed the meal. The poor man didn't lose his ability to speak. His face didn't change. "Every kind of dinner is pleasant at the king's table," he said. What did he gain from this groveling?

On Anger, Book 3, Section 15 Book 3 · 49 of 121
Facing Hardship Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

I have no doubt that Harpagus must have given some such advice to the king of the Persians and of himself, in anger at which the king placed Harpagus’s own children before him on the dinner-table for him to eat, and asked him from time to time, whether he liked the seasoning. Then, when he saw that he was satiated with his own misery, he ordered their heads to be brought to him, and asked him how he liked his entertainment. The wretched man did not lose his readiness of speech; his face did not change. “Every kind of dinner,” said he, “is pleasant at the king’s table.” What did he gain by this obsequiousness?

On Anger, Book 3, Section 15 Book 3 · 49 of 121
Seneca — The Senator

The father didn't curse the king. He didn't even let slip a single harsh word, though his heart was wounded as deeply as his son's body. You could say he did well to hold back his words. Even if he had spoken in anger, he could never have expressed what he truly felt as a father. I think he showed more wisdom in that moment than when he tried to control the drinking of a man who was better suited to drinking wine than drinking blood — a man who only granted peace when his hands were busy with his wine cup. By staying silent, the father joined the ranks of those who learned the hard way how little kings care about good advice from their friends.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 14 Book 3 · 48 of 121
Facing Hardship Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

He did not curse the king, he did not so much as let fall a single inauspicious word, though he felt his own heart as deeply wounded as that of his son. He may be said to have done well in choking down his words; for though he might have spoken as an angry man, yet he could not have expressed what he felt as a father. He may, I repeat, be thought to have behaved with greater wisdom on that occasion than when he tried to regulate the drink of one who was better employed in drinking wine than in drinking blood, and who granted men peace while his hands were busy with the winecup. He, therefore, added one more to the number of those who have shown to their bitter cost how little kings care for their friends’ good advice.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 14 Book 3 · 48 of 121
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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