Plain
Seneca — The Senator

We need to be kind to our minds and give them rest from time to time. This rest works like food — it restores their strength. It also helps to take walks outside, so our spirits can be lifted and refreshed by the open air and fresh breeze. Sometimes we gain strength by riding in a carriage, by traveling, by changing locations, or by sharing meals with friends and drinking a bit more wine than usual. At times we should even drink to the point of intoxication — not enough to drown ourselves, but just enough to dip ourselves in wine. Wine washes away our troubles and pulls them out from the depths of our minds. It acts as medicine for sorrow, just like it does for some diseases.

On Peace of Mind, Section 17 97 of 100
Calm Your Mind What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

We must humour our minds and grant them rest from time to time, which acts upon them like food, and restores their strength. It does good also to take walks out of doors, that our spirits may be raised and refreshed by the open air and fresh breeze: sometimes we gain strength by driving in a carriage, by travel, by change of air, or by social meals and a more generous allowance of wine: at times we ought to drink even to intoxication, not so as to drown, but merely to dip ourselves in wine: for wine washes away troubles and dislodges them from the depths of the mind, and acts as a remedy to sorrow as it does to some diseases.

On Peace of Mind, Section 17 97 of 100
Seneca — The Senator

The people who created our laws set up festivals so the public would be encouraged to enjoy themselves. They knew we needed to break up our work with fun activities. As I mentioned before, some great men gave themselves certain holidays each month. Others divided each day between play time and work time. I remember the great speaker Asinius Pollio wouldn't handle any business after the tenth hour. He wouldn't even read letters after that time, worried that new problems might come up. Instead, he used those two hours to shake off the tiredness he had built up all day. Some people rest in the middle of the day and save light tasks for the afternoon. Our ancestors also banned any new business in the Senate after the tenth hour. Soldiers take turns on watch duty, and those who just came back from active duty get to sleep through the whole night without interruption.

On Peace of Mind, Section 17 96 of 100
Calm Your Mind What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

The founders of our laws appointed festivals, in order that men might be publicly encouraged to be cheerful, and they thought it necessary to vary our labours with amusements, and, as I said before, some great men have been wont to give themselves a certain number of holidays in every month, and some divided every day into play-time and work-time. Thus, I remember that great orator Asinius Pollio would not attend to any business after the tenth hour: he would not even read letters after that time for fear some new trouble should arise, but in those two hours used to get rid of the weariness which he had contracted during the whole day. Some rest in the middle of the day, and reserve some light occupation for the afternoon. Our ancestors, too, forbade any new motion to be made in the Senate after the tenth hour. Soldiers divide their watches, and those who have just returned from active service are allowed to sleep the whole night undisturbed.

On Peace of Mind, Section 17 96 of 100
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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