Plain
Seneca — The Senator

So whenever someone provokes you, ask yourself this: "Am I more powerful than Philip? Yet he let a man curse him without punishment. Do I have more authority in my own house than Emperor Augustus had over the whole world? Yet he was content to simply avoid the company of someone who spoke badly of him. Why should I make my slave pay with beatings and chains just because he answered me too loudly, gave me a stubborn look, or muttered something I couldn't hear? Who am I to think that offending my ears should be a crime? Many people have forgiven their enemies — can't I forgive people for being lazy, careless, and gossipy?" We should make excuses for others: children are young, women are different, strangers don't know our ways, and house servants are too familiar with us.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 24 Book 3 · 74 of 121
Facing Hardship Human Nature
Seneca — The Senator Original

Let every one, then, say to himself, whenever he is provoked, “Am I more powerful than Philip? yet he allowed a man to curse him with impunity. Have I more authority in my own house than the Emperor Augustus possessed throughout the world? yet he was satisfied with leaving the society of his maligner. Why should I make my slave atone by stripes and manacles for having answered me too loudly or having put on a stubborn look, or muttered something which I did not catch? Who am I, that it should be a crime to shock my ears? Many men have forgiven their enemies: shall I not forgive men for being lazy, careless, and gossipping?” We ought to plead age as an excuse for children, sex for women, freedom for a stranger, familiarity for a house-servant.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 24 Book 3 · 74 of 121
Seneca — The Senator

Timagenes was Caesar's enemy, but no one was afraid to befriend him. No one avoided him as if he'd been struck by lightning. Even though he fell from such a high position, someone was ready to catch him. Caesar bore this patiently. He wasn't even upset that the historian had attacked his own achievements and reputation. Caesar never complained about Asinius Pollio sheltering his enemy. He simply said to Pollio, "You are keeping a wild beast." When Pollio tried to defend himself, Caesar cut him off: "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, now that I've made you two friends again?" Pollio had been angry with Timagenes before, but stopped being angry for no other reason than that Caesar started being angry with him.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 23 Book 3 · 73 of 121
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
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 · 73 of 121
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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