Plain
Seneca — The Senator

It's absurd to complain that someone else won't give you their attention when you never give yourself your own attention. That boss of yours — even if he looks down on you — will eventually see you, listen to what you have to say, and maybe even invite you to sit with him. But you never bother to look at yourself or listen to your own thoughts. So why expect these things from others? Especially when you weren't seeking that meeting because you wanted to see them, but because you couldn't manage to have a real conversation with yourself.

On the Shortness of Life, Section 2 8 of 87
Knowing Yourself Freedom & Control
Seneca — The Senator Original

as if a man had any right to complain of being so haughtily shut out by another, when he never has leisure to give his own conscience a hearing. This chief of yours, whoever he is, though he may look at you in an offensive manner, still will some day look at you, open his ears to your words, and give you a seat by his side: but you never design to look upon yourself, to listen to your own grievances. You ought not, then, to claim these services from another, especially since while you yourself were doing so, you did not wish for an interview with another man, but were not able to obtain one with yourself.

On the Shortness of Life, Section 2 8 of 87
Seneca — The Senator

Look at everyone, from the poorest to the richest. This man is calling friends to help him. That one is in court. Another is being sued. Someone else is arguing his case. Another sits on the jury. But no one claims time for himself. Everyone wastes their time on someone else. Look at the famous people whose names are always in the news. You'll see they have the same problem. Person A devotes himself to Person B, and Person B devotes himself to Person C. No one belongs to himself. And some people get furious about the stupidest things. They complain that their bosses were rude because they wouldn't grant them a meeting when they wanted one.

On the Shortness of Life, Section 2 7 of 87
Freedom & Control What Matters Most
Seneca — The Senator Original

Look through all these, from the lowest to the highest:—this man calls his friends to support him, this one is present in court, this one is the defendant, this one pleads for him, this one is on the jury: but no one lays claim to his own self, every one wastes his time over some one else. Investigate those men, whose names are in every one's mouth: you will find that they bear just the same marks: A is devoted to B, and B to C: no one belongs to himself. Moreover some men are full of most irrational anger: they complain of the insolence of their chiefs, because they have not granted them an audience when they wished for it;

On the Shortness of Life, Section 2 7 of 87
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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