Plain
Seneca — The Senator

Think about a prisoner of war who suddenly becomes a slave. He still has some spark of freedom left in him. He won't eagerly rush to do dirty, backbreaking work. After a long period of rest, he's gotten soft and can't run fast enough to keep up with his master's horse or carriage. When he's exhausted from staying awake for days and nights, sleep overtakes him. He refuses to do farm work, or does it halfheartedly when he's dragged away from easy city duties and forced into hard labor. In cases like this, we need to make a distinction.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 29 Book 3 · 89 of 121
Human Nature Facing Hardship
Seneca — The Senator Original

If a prisoner of war, who has suddenly been reduced to the condition of a slave, still retains some remnants of liberty, and does not run nimbly to perform foul and toilsome tasks, if, having grown slothful by long rest, he cannot run fast enough to keep pace with his master’s horse or carriage, if sleep overpowers him when weary with many days and nights of watching, if he refuses to undertake farm work, or does not do it heartily when brought away from the idleness of city service and put to hard labour, we ought to make a distinction

On Anger, Book 3, Section 29 Book 3 · 89 of 121
Seneca — The Senator

It's shameful to hate someone you praise. But it's even more shameful to hate someone for something they should be pitied for.

On Anger, Book 3, Section 29 Book 3 · 88 of 121
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Seneca — The Senator Original

It is shameful to hate him whom you praise: but how much more shameful is it to hate a man for something for which he deserves to be pitied?

On Anger, Book 3, Section 29 Book 3 · 88 of 121
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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