Plain
Seneca — The Senator

The late Emperor Augustus also did and said many memorable things that prove he wasn't ruled by anger. Timagenes, a history writer, made some nasty remarks about Augustus, his wife, and his whole family. His jokes didn't fall flat — nothing spreads faster or gets repeated more than reckless humor. Caesar often warned him to tone down his talk. When Timagenes kept offending, Augustus banned him from his house. After this, Timagenes spent his later years as a guest of Asinius Pollio and became the favorite of the whole city. Just because Caesar's door closed to him didn't mean other doors did. He read aloud the history he wrote after this incident, but burned all the books that told the story of Augustus Caesar.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 23 Book 3 · 71 of 121
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

The late Emperor Augustus also did and said many memorable things, which prove that he was not under the dominion of anger. Timagenes, the historical writer, made some remarks upon him, his wife, and his whole family: nor did his jests fall to the ground, for nothing spreads more widely or is more in people’s mouths than reckless wit. Caesar often warned him to be less audacious in his talk, and as he continued to offend, forbade him his house. Timagenes after this passed the later years of his life as the guest of Asinius Pollio, and was the favourite of the whole city: the closing of Caesar’s door did not close any other door against him. He read aloud the history which he wrote after this, but burned the books which contained the doings of Augustus Caesar.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 23 Book 3 · 71 of 121
Seneca — The Senator

When Antigonus was besieging some Greeks in a small fort, the defenders made fun of how he looked. They mocked his short height and broken nose, confident that their strong position made them safe. Antigonus replied, "I'm delighted and expect good luck, because I have a Silenus in my camp." After he starved these clever jokers into surrender, he drafted the men who could fight and sold the rest as slaves at auction. He said he wouldn't have done this if it weren't better for people with such vicious tongues to be under a master's control.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 22 Book 3 · 70 of 121
Facing Hardship Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

as that of his countrymen; thus when he was besieging some Greeks in a little fort, and they, despising their enemy through their confidence in the strength of their position, cut many jokes upon the ugliness of Antigonus, at one time mocking him for his shortness of stature, at another for his broken nose, he answered, “I rejoice, and expect some good fortune because I have a Silenus in my camp.” After he had conquered these witty folk by hunger, his treatment of them was to form regiments of those who were fit for service, and sell the rest by public auction; nor would he, said he, have done this had it not been better that men who had such evil tongues should be under the control of a master.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 22 Book 3 · 70 of 121
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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