Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Whether life is worth living under such conditions — well, that's a different question for another time. Let's not comfort these miserable people or tell them to obey their torturers. Instead, let's show them that no matter how enslaved a person might be, there's always a path to freedom open — unless their mind is sick. It's your own fault if you suffer when you could end your misery by ending yourself. To the man whose king shot arrows at his friends' chests, and to the man whose master forced fathers to eat their children's hearts, I would say: 'You fool, why are you moaning? What are you waiting for?'

On Anger, Book 3, Section 15 Book 3 · 50 of 121
Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Seneca — The Senator Original

Whether life is worth having at such a price, we shall see hereafter; that is another question. Let us not console so sorry a crew, or encourage them to submit to the orders of their butchers; let us point out that however slavish a man’s condition may be, there is always a path to liberty open to him, unless his mind be diseased. It is a man’s own fault if he suffers, when by putting an end to himself he can put an end to his misery. To him whose king aimed arrows at the breasts of his friends, and to him whose master gorged fathers with the hearts of their children, I would say “Madman, why do you groan? for what are you waiting?

On Anger, Book 3, Section 15 Book 3 · 50 of 121
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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