Seneca Moral essays
Seneca: Let us conceal its symptoms, and as far as…
Let us conceal its symptoms, and as far as possible keep it secret and hidden. It will give us great trouble to do this, for it is eager to burst forth, to kindle our eyes and to transform our face; but if we allow it to show itself in our outward appearance, it is our master.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Seneca’s moral essays. The reading beside it is ours.
Anger wants an audience. It announces itself through the slammed door, the loud sigh, the icy silence, the face designed to make everyone else uncomfortable. Once we start performing it, the emotion gains momentum and becomes harder to put down. So begin with the body. Relax your brow. Lower your voice. Unclench your hands. If possible, do not send the visual signal that says, “I am ready for war.” This is not hypocrisy or repression. It is refusing to let a passing feeling recruit your posture, your words, and the people around you. Sometimes the outside can lead the inside back to calm. You may still need to address what happened, but you do not need to broadcast your fury while deciding how. Keep it contained long enough to regain choice. What you display repeatedly is what you strengthen.
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