Plain
Seneca — The Senator

But what does he gain by running around like this if he can't escape from himself? He follows himself everywhere and weighs himself down with his own terrible company. We need to understand that our problem isn't the places we go — it's us. We're too weak to endure anything. We can't handle work or pleasure for long. We can't stick with our own business or anyone else's. This restlessness has driven some people to kill themselves. They kept changing their plans but always ended up back where they started. They left themselves no room for anything new. They got sick of life and the world itself. When all pleasures became boring, they started asking themselves: 'How long do we have to keep doing the same things over and over?'

On Peace of Mind, Section 2 22 of 100
Calm Your Mind Knowing Yourself Facing Hardship
Seneca — The Senator Original

but what does he gain by so doing if he does not escape from himself? he follows himself and weighs himself down by his own most burdensome companionship. We must understand, therefore, that what we suffer from is not the fault of the places but of ourselves: we are weak when there is anything to be endured, and cannot support either labour or pleasure, either one's own business or any one else's for long. This has driven some men to death, because by frequently altering their purpose they were always brought back to the same point, and had left themselves no room for anything new. They had become sick of life and of the world itself, and as all indulgences palled upon them they began to ask themselves the question, "How long are we to go on doing the same thing?"

On Peace of Mind, Section 2 22 of 100
Seneca — The Senator

This is why people take pointless trips and wander along distant shores. Sometimes they travel by sea, sometimes by land. They're trying to soothe their restless nature, which is never happy with where they are right now. "Let's go to Campania! No wait, I'm sick of all this fancy farming — let's see some wild country instead. Let's hike through the mountains of Bruttii and Lucania. But even in this wilderness, I need something beautiful to look at. My eyes are tired of all these rough places. Let's head to Tarentum with its famous harbor and mild winters. It's rich enough to feed huge crowds like it did in ancient times. Actually, let's go back to the city. I miss the shouting and noise. It would be fun to watch some gladiator fights too." One trip follows another. One sight gets swapped for another. As Lucretius put it: "Every person runs away from himself."

On Peace of Mind, Section 2 21 of 100
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

Hence men undertake aimless wanderings, travel along distant shores, and at one time at sea, at another by land, try to soothe that fickleness of disposition which always is dissatisfied with the present. "Now let us make for Campania: now I am sick of rich cultivation: let us see wild regions, let us thread the passes of Bruttii and Lucania: yet amid this wilderness one wants something of beauty to relieve our pampered eyes after so long dwelling on savage wastes: let us seek Tarentum with its famous harbour, its mild winter climate, and its district, rich enough to support even the great hordes of ancient times. Let us now return to town: our ears have too long missed its shouts and noise: it would be pleasant also to enjoy the sight of human bloodshed." Thus one journey succeeds another, and one sight is changed for another. As Lucretius says:— "Thus every mortal from himself doth flee;"

On Peace of Mind, Section 2 21 of 100
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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