Moral essays. With an English translation by J.W. Basore

ON ANGER, II. I. 4-n. 3Oui_OEinion is that it ventures nothing^ by itself, but -acts mHyLJiyitlL-tlie approval oi the mind. For toform the impression of ha\-ing received an injuryand to long to avenge it, and then to couple togetherthe two propositions that one ought not to have beenwronged and that one ought to be avenged—this isnot a mere impulse of the mind acting -without ourvolition. The one is a single mental process, theother a complex one composed of several elements ;the jMndhas grasped something, has become indignant,has condemned the act, and now tries toavenge Ttr~These processes are impossible unlessthe mind has given assent to the impressions thatmoved it." Butrll you askj "what is the purpose of such aninquiry ?^' I answer, in order that we may knowwhat anger is ; for if it arises against our ^\-ill, it ^^•i^lnever succumb to reason. For all sensations that donotTesviIt from our own volition are uncontrolled andunavoidable, as, for example, shivering when we aredashed ^yiih cold water and recoilment from certaincontacts ; bad news makes the hair stand on end, \i\elanguage causes a blush to spread, and when onelooks down from a precipice, dizziness follows. Becausenone of these things lies A\-ithin our control, noreasoning can keep them from happening. Butanger may be routed at our behest ; for it is a weak-