Plain
Seneca — The Senator

As for the different things that make us happy or sad, let everyone think about their own life and see the truth in what Bion said: "All human activities are very much like how they started, and there's nothing in people's lives that's more sacred or proper than their birth." But it's better to accept society's flaws and human weaknesses calmly. Don't burst into laughter or tears about them. If you let other people's suffering hurt you, you'll be miserable forever. But if you enjoy other people's suffering, that's cruel. And it's pointless kindness to weep and look sad just because someone is burying their child.

On Peace of Mind, Section 15 85 of 100
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Seneca — The Senator Original

As for the several causes which render us happy or sorrowful, let every one describe them for himself, and learn the truth of Bion's saying, "That all the doings of men were very like what he began with, and that there is nothing in their lives which is more holy or decent than their conception." Yet it is better to accept public morals and human vices calmly without bursting into either laughter or tears; for to be hurt by the sufferings of others is to be for ever miserable, while to enjoy the sufferings of others is an inhuman pleasure, just as it is a useless piece of humanity to weep and pull a long face because some one is burying his son.

On Peace of Mind, Section 15 85 of 100
Seneca — The Senator

The person who laughs at humanity does more good than the person who cries over it. When you laugh, you still believe people can get better. When you cry, you've given up hope that anything will change. Someone who looks at the whole world and can't help but laugh has a stronger mind than someone who can't stop crying. The laugher is barely bothered by what he sees. He doesn't think any of this grand show is important, serious, or tragic.

On Peace of Mind, Section 15 84 of 100
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Seneca — The Senator Original

Add to this that he who laughs at the human race deserves better of it than he who mourns for it, for the former leaves it some good hopes of improvement, while the latter stupidly weeps over what he has given up all hopes of mending. He who after surveying the universe cannot control his laughter shows, too, a greater mind than he who cannot restrain his tears, because his mind is only affected in the slightest possible degree, and he does not think that any part of all this apparatus is either important, or serious, or unhappy.

On Peace of Mind, Section 15 84 of 100
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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