Source edition
Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol III. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1891.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a practical philosophical dialogue that explores how to control and overcome anger, one of the most destructive human passions. In response to an inquiry from Sillas, Fundanus, who once possessed a fiery temperament, shares his personal methods of self-treatment and practical philosophical teachings. The discussion begins with the training to suppress anger in its early stages through silence and self-observation, emphasizing that the ugly appearance of others' anger should serve as a negative example, and that anger is a sign of a weak soul rather than a strong one. Drawing upon historical anecdotes of ancient sages and rulers who demonstrated magnanimity, Fundanus explains concrete mental attitudes to avoid hasty punishment of slaves and close associates, including abandoning luxury and the delusion of being despised. Ultimately, Fundanus demonstrates that through cumulative practices, such as taking temporary vows to abstain from anger, the control of this passion brings the greatest peace to oneself, concluding with the supreme value of cultivating a gentle disposition.