Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Timagenes was Caesar's enemy, but no one was afraid to be his friend. No one avoided him as if he were cursed by the gods. Even though he had fallen from such a high position, someone was still willing to take him in. Caesar handled this patiently. He wasn't even angry that this historian had attacked his own achievements and reputation in his writing. Caesar never complained about the man who gave his enemy shelter. He simply said to Asinius Pollio, "You're keeping a wild beast." When Pollio tried to defend himself, Caesar stopped him and said, "Enjoy his friendship, my Pollio. Enjoy it." When Pollio said, "If you command it, Caesar, I'll ban him from my house immediately," Caesar replied, "Do you think I would do that, after I've made you two friends again?" You see, Pollio had been angry with Timagenes before. But he stopped being angry for no other reason than that Caesar had started being angry with him.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 23 Book 3 · 72 of 121
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

He was at enmity with Caesar, but yet no one feared to be his friend, no one shrank from him as though he were blasted by lightning: although he fell from so high a place, yet some one was found to catch him in his lap. Caesar, I say, bore this with patience, and was not even irritated by the historian’s having laid violent hands upon his own glories and acts: he never complained of the man who afforded his enemy shelter, but merely said to Asinius Pollio “You are keeping a wild beast:” then, when the other would have excused his conduct, he stopped him, and said “Enjoy, my Pollio, enjoy his friendship.” When Pollio said, “If you order me, Caesar, I will straightway forbid him my house,” he answered, “Do you think that I am likely to do this, after having made you friends again?” for formerly Pollio had been angry with Timagenes, and ceased to be angry with him for no other reason than that Caesar began to be so.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 23 Book 3 · 72 of 121
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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