
About the fire
Description
Book Introduction
★ Seneca's phrases that will help you navigate through angry and anxious times.
★ The essence of Seneca's philosophy that Nietzsche, Camus, and Augustine encountered at a turning point in their lives
★ Includes 283 in-depth commentaries and detailed footnotes.
“Don’t be swayed by emotions, be the master of your life.”
In every moment when we felt like we were going to collapse, there was a sentence that comforted us and survived 2000 years.
An era shaken by anger, anxiety and despair.
Where can we learn to control our emotions? asked the Roman philosopher Seneca.
“Philosophy is a salve that heals the wounds of life.”
"On Anger" is the starting point and essence of Seneca's practical philosophy, a classic that teaches us how to fight the internal enemy of emotion.
He defines anger as “a temporary state of madness,” and in three volumes he describes its causes, harm, prevention, and cure in a very logical and realistic way.
In particular, his insight that anger can be prevented in advance through education, environment, habits, and mindset is a core theme that is recurring in modern psychology and brain science.
Seneca treated philosophy not as an abstract theory, but as a weapon for life.
"On Tolerance" was written as a book of advice to the Emperor Nero, but behind it lies a sharp insight into power, forgiveness, and political leadership.
He calls tolerance “the virtue of God” and presents it as the core of political ethics that breaks the vicious cycle of revenge and restores the order of coexistence.
In "On Equanimity," the inner anxiety of a friend named Serenus is addressed.
Seneca says that equanimity is not the absence of emotion, but comes from the wisdom to understand the world correctly and make choices.
The archetype of modern mindfulness is revealed in the attitude of controlling the wavering mind.
"On the Constancy of the Sage" describes the mental state of a "sage" who is unshaken by the ups and downs of fate.
This is not a philosophy of resignation or renunciation, but a philosophy of resilience, of taking life into one's own hands.
This 『On Anger』 is the definitive edition of Seneca's practical philosophy, compiled from seven essays including 『On Tolerance』 and 『On Equanimity』.
The Modern Intellect Classics series introduces all 14 of Seneca's essays as numbers 67 and 68.
Completely translated from the original Latin, this respectful translation combines philosophical depth with a modern context, allowing anyone to savor the essence of the classics.
A classic is not an old book, but an insight that still works today.
Seneca's sentences will become a balm for your heart that you can read whenever you feel like your inner self is crumbling.
★ The essence of Seneca's philosophy that Nietzsche, Camus, and Augustine encountered at a turning point in their lives
★ Includes 283 in-depth commentaries and detailed footnotes.
“Don’t be swayed by emotions, be the master of your life.”
In every moment when we felt like we were going to collapse, there was a sentence that comforted us and survived 2000 years.
An era shaken by anger, anxiety and despair.
Where can we learn to control our emotions? asked the Roman philosopher Seneca.
“Philosophy is a salve that heals the wounds of life.”
"On Anger" is the starting point and essence of Seneca's practical philosophy, a classic that teaches us how to fight the internal enemy of emotion.
He defines anger as “a temporary state of madness,” and in three volumes he describes its causes, harm, prevention, and cure in a very logical and realistic way.
In particular, his insight that anger can be prevented in advance through education, environment, habits, and mindset is a core theme that is recurring in modern psychology and brain science.
Seneca treated philosophy not as an abstract theory, but as a weapon for life.
"On Tolerance" was written as a book of advice to the Emperor Nero, but behind it lies a sharp insight into power, forgiveness, and political leadership.
He calls tolerance “the virtue of God” and presents it as the core of political ethics that breaks the vicious cycle of revenge and restores the order of coexistence.
In "On Equanimity," the inner anxiety of a friend named Serenus is addressed.
Seneca says that equanimity is not the absence of emotion, but comes from the wisdom to understand the world correctly and make choices.
The archetype of modern mindfulness is revealed in the attitude of controlling the wavering mind.
"On the Constancy of the Sage" describes the mental state of a "sage" who is unshaken by the ups and downs of fate.
This is not a philosophy of resignation or renunciation, but a philosophy of resilience, of taking life into one's own hands.
This 『On Anger』 is the definitive edition of Seneca's practical philosophy, compiled from seven essays including 『On Tolerance』 and 『On Equanimity』.
The Modern Intellect Classics series introduces all 14 of Seneca's essays as numbers 67 and 68.
Completely translated from the original Latin, this respectful translation combines philosophical depth with a modern context, allowing anyone to savor the essence of the classics.
A classic is not an old book, but an insight that still works today.
Seneca's sentences will become a balm for your heart that you can read whenever you feel like your inner self is crumbling.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
Part 1 | On Anger (1)
Part 2 | On Anger (2)
Part 3 | On Anger (3)
Part 4 | On Tolerance (1)
Part 5 | On Tolerance (2)
Part 6 | On Equanimity
Part 7 | On the Constancy of the Wise Man
Commentary | Park Moon-jae
Seneca Chronology
Part 2 | On Anger (2)
Part 3 | On Anger (3)
Part 4 | On Tolerance (1)
Part 5 | On Tolerance (2)
Part 6 | On Equanimity
Part 7 | On the Constancy of the Wise Man
Commentary | Park Moon-jae
Seneca Chronology
Detailed image

Into the book
Anger is driven by a desire for punishment, death, pain, and harm, ultimately destroying oneself.
If it means harming others, they will not even care about their own safety, and they will throw themselves onto the blade, even if it means taking revenge that will lead to their own destruction.
For this reason, some wise men have called anger a momentary madness.
Anger, like madness, causes loss of self-control, forgetting proper standards of behavior, and disregarding human relationships.
Once you start something, you become obsessed and immersed in it, and you turn a deaf ear to rational judgment and advice.
They are easily excited by trivial things, cannot distinguish between what is right and what is true, and fall apart like a collapsing building.
--- From "Part 1 | On Anger (1)"
The wisest attitude is to block the first impulse of anger, to nip it in the bud, and to be vigilant against anger arising.
Once anger starts leading us down the wrong path, it's not easy to get back on the right path.
When we accept passions of our own free will and give them some power, reason becomes powerless and passions move as they please beyond the limits we have permitted.
…Moreover, anger itself has no benefit and does not truly inspire the mind, even in intense situations such as combat.
Virtue is complete in itself, so there is no need to borrow the power of vice.
Even in moments when forceful action or aggression is required, virtue rises up without anger and advances or retreats as the situation demands.
This is similar to how archers or javelin throwers adjust the range of their arrows or spears based on their own judgment.
--- From "Part 1 | On Anger (1)"
There is nothing more beneficial than reminding ourselves that we are all mortal beings who will one day die.
Everyone should say this to themselves and others.
"What's the point of wasting a life that's already too short by venting anger as if it were going to last forever? What's the point of spending time doing what's morally right and enjoying yourself, torturing and harassing others? We don't have the time, nor the luxury, to waste it.
Why do we start fights and quarrels? Why do we forget our own weaknesses, burdening our fragile bodies with immense hatred and seeking to harm others? If we continue to harbor and unlearn resentment, eventually fever or some other illness will come and stop us.
Death will intervene and separate the enemies.
Why make a fuss and disrupt life with strife? Death looms overhead, drawing ever closer as we count the days that pass.
“While we spend our time trying to kill others, our own death may be imminent.”
--- From "Part 3 | On Anger (3)"
At this point, it is necessary to examine the nature of compassion.
Because many people praise compassion as a virtue and call compassionate people good.
But pity is also a vice of the heart.
It is less dangerous to indulge in pity than to indulge in cruelty, but it is equally a fallacy from the truth.
Compassion is nothing more than an emotional weakness that causes us to become irrationally caught up in the misfortunes of others and destroy ourselves.
The wise man does not feel pity, but he does everything that those who are pity do with joy and nobility.
He runs to help others when they are crying, but he does not cry with them.
--- From "Part 5 | On Tolerance (2)"
So people, always out of a whim that hates the present, go on trips, wandering from coast to coast, sometimes at sea, sometimes on land, trying new things.
Lucretius says:
"This is how people run away from themselves." But what good is it if you can't escape yourself? It's you who follows you around, oppressing and pressuring you, and you are the most burdensome companion of all.
Therefore, we must realize that the reason we suffer and struggle is not because of the faults of the place, but because of our own faults.
We are weak and cannot endure anything, whether it be hardship, pleasure, or ourselves, for long.
This drives some people to death.
I change my plans often, but I can't find anywhere new to stay, and I always end up back where I started.
--- From "Part 6 | On Equanimity"
After Demetrius conquered Megara, he asked the local philosopher Stilbo what he had lost, and he replied, “I have lost nothing; everything I had remains the same.”
But the property he had inherited from his ancestors had been plundered, his daughters had been taken into enemy hands, and his country was now under enemy rule.
He was to be interrogated before the enemy king, seated on the throne of the conqueror, surrounded by the spearheads of the victorious army.
But Stilbo snatched the victory from Demetrius by testifying that his city had been taken, but he himself had not been conquered, let alone harmed.
Steelbow still held onto his true, untouchable possessions, and he considered those things his enemies had taken not to be his, but merely temporary possessions entrusted to him by fate.
So he didn't pay attention to such things.
Because anything that comes from outside is inherently an unstable possession that can disappear at any time.
The wise man regards not only his slaves, his property, his position, but also his body, his eyes, his hands, everything that enriches his life, and even himself, as temporarily entrusted to him by fate, and he lives as a person who will return them without hesitation whenever they ask for them.
If it means harming others, they will not even care about their own safety, and they will throw themselves onto the blade, even if it means taking revenge that will lead to their own destruction.
For this reason, some wise men have called anger a momentary madness.
Anger, like madness, causes loss of self-control, forgetting proper standards of behavior, and disregarding human relationships.
Once you start something, you become obsessed and immersed in it, and you turn a deaf ear to rational judgment and advice.
They are easily excited by trivial things, cannot distinguish between what is right and what is true, and fall apart like a collapsing building.
--- From "Part 1 | On Anger (1)"
The wisest attitude is to block the first impulse of anger, to nip it in the bud, and to be vigilant against anger arising.
Once anger starts leading us down the wrong path, it's not easy to get back on the right path.
When we accept passions of our own free will and give them some power, reason becomes powerless and passions move as they please beyond the limits we have permitted.
…Moreover, anger itself has no benefit and does not truly inspire the mind, even in intense situations such as combat.
Virtue is complete in itself, so there is no need to borrow the power of vice.
Even in moments when forceful action or aggression is required, virtue rises up without anger and advances or retreats as the situation demands.
This is similar to how archers or javelin throwers adjust the range of their arrows or spears based on their own judgment.
--- From "Part 1 | On Anger (1)"
There is nothing more beneficial than reminding ourselves that we are all mortal beings who will one day die.
Everyone should say this to themselves and others.
"What's the point of wasting a life that's already too short by venting anger as if it were going to last forever? What's the point of spending time doing what's morally right and enjoying yourself, torturing and harassing others? We don't have the time, nor the luxury, to waste it.
Why do we start fights and quarrels? Why do we forget our own weaknesses, burdening our fragile bodies with immense hatred and seeking to harm others? If we continue to harbor and unlearn resentment, eventually fever or some other illness will come and stop us.
Death will intervene and separate the enemies.
Why make a fuss and disrupt life with strife? Death looms overhead, drawing ever closer as we count the days that pass.
“While we spend our time trying to kill others, our own death may be imminent.”
--- From "Part 3 | On Anger (3)"
At this point, it is necessary to examine the nature of compassion.
Because many people praise compassion as a virtue and call compassionate people good.
But pity is also a vice of the heart.
It is less dangerous to indulge in pity than to indulge in cruelty, but it is equally a fallacy from the truth.
Compassion is nothing more than an emotional weakness that causes us to become irrationally caught up in the misfortunes of others and destroy ourselves.
The wise man does not feel pity, but he does everything that those who are pity do with joy and nobility.
He runs to help others when they are crying, but he does not cry with them.
--- From "Part 5 | On Tolerance (2)"
So people, always out of a whim that hates the present, go on trips, wandering from coast to coast, sometimes at sea, sometimes on land, trying new things.
Lucretius says:
"This is how people run away from themselves." But what good is it if you can't escape yourself? It's you who follows you around, oppressing and pressuring you, and you are the most burdensome companion of all.
Therefore, we must realize that the reason we suffer and struggle is not because of the faults of the place, but because of our own faults.
We are weak and cannot endure anything, whether it be hardship, pleasure, or ourselves, for long.
This drives some people to death.
I change my plans often, but I can't find anywhere new to stay, and I always end up back where I started.
--- From "Part 6 | On Equanimity"
After Demetrius conquered Megara, he asked the local philosopher Stilbo what he had lost, and he replied, “I have lost nothing; everything I had remains the same.”
But the property he had inherited from his ancestors had been plundered, his daughters had been taken into enemy hands, and his country was now under enemy rule.
He was to be interrogated before the enemy king, seated on the throne of the conqueror, surrounded by the spearheads of the victorious army.
But Stilbo snatched the victory from Demetrius by testifying that his city had been taken, but he himself had not been conquered, let alone harmed.
Steelbow still held onto his true, untouchable possessions, and he considered those things his enemies had taken not to be his, but merely temporary possessions entrusted to him by fate.
So he didn't pay attention to such things.
Because anything that comes from outside is inherently an unstable possession that can disappear at any time.
The wise man regards not only his slaves, his property, his position, but also his body, his eyes, his hands, everything that enriches his life, and even himself, as temporarily entrusted to him by fate, and he lives as a person who will return them without hesitation whenever they ask for them.
--- From "Part 7 | On the Constancy of the Wise Man"
Publisher's Review
Resilience and mindfulness are the hot topics
A must-read for modern society
For modern people living in unpredictable times, 'inner peace' and 'mental training' have become more essential than ever.
Seneca (c. 4 BC - AD 65), a philosopher who lived through the Golden Age of Rome, imparts unwavering life skills through his writings.
"On Anger" offers profound insights into the contemporary topics of "mental resilience" and "emotional management," and suggests ways to build a strong inner self even in the face of life's anxieties and hardships, centering on the virtues of self-control and equanimity.
Seneca's insights also show similarities with modern anger management theories.
He views anger not as a simple emotional reaction, but as a "cognitive error" resulting from an imperfect understanding of the truth.
This is closely aligned with the core principles emphasized by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) today.
He cites Democritus's laughter, advising us to reframe public vices and the follies of others through humor and distance, rather than despising or being angry at them.
This is similar to modern reframing techniques, and the attitude of checking one's emotions and behaviors every day is also in line with mindfulness.
Seneca regards anger as entirely harmful and resolutely rejects unnecessary consumption of emotions.
The moment you understand the nature of anger, it becomes powerless.
Seneca saw anger as a paralysis of reason, the embodiment of self-destructive desire.
He clearly defines anger as “a desire to punish,” and says that it arises from an error of judgment, not an emotion.
In other words, anger involves the premise that I am right and the other person is wrong.
That is why anger is always self-centered and a lazy judgment that seeks to simplify the complexity of the world.
Seneca sees anger as a disease that must be eliminated.
This feeling begins when the expectation of being understood is frustrated, and the expectation soon grows out of arrogance.
If you don't expect anything, you won't be disappointed.
The key to overcoming anger is not to miss the moment it happens.
Only by detecting the signs and widening the gap in time will reason return.
Managing anger is both philosophical and practical.
Pausing, journaling, understanding other people's imperfections, and letting them pass with humor.
When all these small practices accumulate, your inner self becomes much stronger.
True strength comes only to those who know how to master themselves.
Truly powerful people don't seek revenge.
Seneca sees tolerance as the pinnacle of power.
He defined true greatness as “to endure even when one can take revenge.”
“On Tolerance” is not just a sermon offered to those in power.
This is a profound ethical philosophy that penetrates the essence of human relationships, and it is the most realistic way to protect the community.
Seneca says:
“Cruel punishment does not control people.
“Only love and trust create a sustainable order.” Revenge is the instinct of the weak, and tolerance is the choice of the strong.
A true leader demonstrates his power 'by not using it'.
Seneca cites the anecdote of Emperor Augustus forgiving an assassination plotter as an example, showing how forgiveness makes power more stable.
Tolerance is ultimately the most rational weapon that protects me.
Whether it's a leader, a parent, or a friend, only those who can forgive can maintain a true and long-lasting relationship.
Equanimity begins with contentment.
Seneca finds inner balance in ‘contentment with oneself.’
It is not external stimuli that cause us to waver, but rather our own distrust of ourselves.
“On Equanimity” is not just about having a quiet mind.
This book is a technical book on designing silence.
Seneca says, “The reason people are busy is because it is painful to be with themselves.”
He defined equanimity as “always following the natural course, affirming oneself, and enjoying that state.”
What makes life solid is not desire, but moderation, not ambition, but clear boundaries.
A plan that doesn't force you, an attitude that guards against being busy for the sake of being busy, and a flexible attitude to change positions will help you maintain composure.
He who seeks to have everything ends up having nothing.
Equanimity is not a desire, but a skill of surrender.
Why external pain cannot break me
Seneca says that a truly wise man is not one who is “unhurt,” but one who “is not broken by hurts.”
"On the Constancy of the Wise Man" depicts the ultimate image of humanity as portrayed by Stoic philosophy, that is, the image of a human being who has transcended fate.
He says that a wise man is not one who is indifferent to external insults, misfortunes, and suffering, but one who knows that they do not damage his own essence.
In this passage, Seneca does not view fate as a 'necessity to be accepted'.
Rather, he invites fate to be his friend in philosophy.
His attitude of declaring, “Fate has freed me from everything,” is not one of resignation but of subjective acceptance.
True resilience comes not from struggling to become stronger, but from an inner peace that allows us to accept even our wounds as part of ourselves.
A strong inner self that nothing can take away, that is the constancy of the philosopher that Seneca speaks of.
How to Become Unwavering in a Shaking World
Modern Intellect Classics introduces the complete translation of all 14 of Seneca's essays in two volumes.
The sophisticated nuances of the original Latin text have been preserved, but meticulously refined to allow readers to savor its essence.
Seneca's philosophy does not teach us to eliminate suffering, but rather to redefine our relationship with it.
It presents concrete and practical ways to avoid being swayed by life's shocks, manage conflicts in relationships healthily, and maintain self-esteem.
He says that rather than changing fate itself, we must change our attitude toward fate.
Here are the key changes readers will experience through this book:
1.
The power to stay centered and not be swayed by emotions: Seneca views anger as an emotion that arises from an “error in judgment,” and suggests training to create an “interval of time” to postpone an immediate response.
This means recovering an attitude of choice in life rather than impulsive reactions.
2.
The art of maintaining composure in a chaotic world: "On Composure" penetrates the psychology of modern people, who constantly compare themselves and feel anxious.
It helps you design a calm inner self by reducing desires, simplifying plans, and making peace with yourself.
3.
A philosophy that transforms life's pain into an asset for inner growth: "On the Perseverance of the Wise Man" speaks not of a heart that is immune to injury, but of resilience that overcomes and rises above pain.
True freedom lies in accepting your fate rather than avoiding it, and in establishing a new relationship with suffering.
A must-read for modern society
For modern people living in unpredictable times, 'inner peace' and 'mental training' have become more essential than ever.
Seneca (c. 4 BC - AD 65), a philosopher who lived through the Golden Age of Rome, imparts unwavering life skills through his writings.
"On Anger" offers profound insights into the contemporary topics of "mental resilience" and "emotional management," and suggests ways to build a strong inner self even in the face of life's anxieties and hardships, centering on the virtues of self-control and equanimity.
Seneca's insights also show similarities with modern anger management theories.
He views anger not as a simple emotional reaction, but as a "cognitive error" resulting from an imperfect understanding of the truth.
This is closely aligned with the core principles emphasized by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) today.
He cites Democritus's laughter, advising us to reframe public vices and the follies of others through humor and distance, rather than despising or being angry at them.
This is similar to modern reframing techniques, and the attitude of checking one's emotions and behaviors every day is also in line with mindfulness.
Seneca regards anger as entirely harmful and resolutely rejects unnecessary consumption of emotions.
The moment you understand the nature of anger, it becomes powerless.
Seneca saw anger as a paralysis of reason, the embodiment of self-destructive desire.
He clearly defines anger as “a desire to punish,” and says that it arises from an error of judgment, not an emotion.
In other words, anger involves the premise that I am right and the other person is wrong.
That is why anger is always self-centered and a lazy judgment that seeks to simplify the complexity of the world.
Seneca sees anger as a disease that must be eliminated.
This feeling begins when the expectation of being understood is frustrated, and the expectation soon grows out of arrogance.
If you don't expect anything, you won't be disappointed.
The key to overcoming anger is not to miss the moment it happens.
Only by detecting the signs and widening the gap in time will reason return.
Managing anger is both philosophical and practical.
Pausing, journaling, understanding other people's imperfections, and letting them pass with humor.
When all these small practices accumulate, your inner self becomes much stronger.
True strength comes only to those who know how to master themselves.
Truly powerful people don't seek revenge.
Seneca sees tolerance as the pinnacle of power.
He defined true greatness as “to endure even when one can take revenge.”
“On Tolerance” is not just a sermon offered to those in power.
This is a profound ethical philosophy that penetrates the essence of human relationships, and it is the most realistic way to protect the community.
Seneca says:
“Cruel punishment does not control people.
“Only love and trust create a sustainable order.” Revenge is the instinct of the weak, and tolerance is the choice of the strong.
A true leader demonstrates his power 'by not using it'.
Seneca cites the anecdote of Emperor Augustus forgiving an assassination plotter as an example, showing how forgiveness makes power more stable.
Tolerance is ultimately the most rational weapon that protects me.
Whether it's a leader, a parent, or a friend, only those who can forgive can maintain a true and long-lasting relationship.
Equanimity begins with contentment.
Seneca finds inner balance in ‘contentment with oneself.’
It is not external stimuli that cause us to waver, but rather our own distrust of ourselves.
“On Equanimity” is not just about having a quiet mind.
This book is a technical book on designing silence.
Seneca says, “The reason people are busy is because it is painful to be with themselves.”
He defined equanimity as “always following the natural course, affirming oneself, and enjoying that state.”
What makes life solid is not desire, but moderation, not ambition, but clear boundaries.
A plan that doesn't force you, an attitude that guards against being busy for the sake of being busy, and a flexible attitude to change positions will help you maintain composure.
He who seeks to have everything ends up having nothing.
Equanimity is not a desire, but a skill of surrender.
Why external pain cannot break me
Seneca says that a truly wise man is not one who is “unhurt,” but one who “is not broken by hurts.”
"On the Constancy of the Wise Man" depicts the ultimate image of humanity as portrayed by Stoic philosophy, that is, the image of a human being who has transcended fate.
He says that a wise man is not one who is indifferent to external insults, misfortunes, and suffering, but one who knows that they do not damage his own essence.
In this passage, Seneca does not view fate as a 'necessity to be accepted'.
Rather, he invites fate to be his friend in philosophy.
His attitude of declaring, “Fate has freed me from everything,” is not one of resignation but of subjective acceptance.
True resilience comes not from struggling to become stronger, but from an inner peace that allows us to accept even our wounds as part of ourselves.
A strong inner self that nothing can take away, that is the constancy of the philosopher that Seneca speaks of.
How to Become Unwavering in a Shaking World
Modern Intellect Classics introduces the complete translation of all 14 of Seneca's essays in two volumes.
The sophisticated nuances of the original Latin text have been preserved, but meticulously refined to allow readers to savor its essence.
Seneca's philosophy does not teach us to eliminate suffering, but rather to redefine our relationship with it.
It presents concrete and practical ways to avoid being swayed by life's shocks, manage conflicts in relationships healthily, and maintain self-esteem.
He says that rather than changing fate itself, we must change our attitude toward fate.
Here are the key changes readers will experience through this book:
1.
The power to stay centered and not be swayed by emotions: Seneca views anger as an emotion that arises from an “error in judgment,” and suggests training to create an “interval of time” to postpone an immediate response.
This means recovering an attitude of choice in life rather than impulsive reactions.
2.
The art of maintaining composure in a chaotic world: "On Composure" penetrates the psychology of modern people, who constantly compare themselves and feel anxious.
It helps you design a calm inner self by reducing desires, simplifying plans, and making peace with yourself.
3.
A philosophy that transforms life's pain into an asset for inner growth: "On the Perseverance of the Wise Man" speaks not of a heart that is immune to injury, but of resilience that overcomes and rises above pain.
True freedom lies in accepting your fate rather than avoiding it, and in establishing a new relationship with suffering.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: August 1, 2025
- Page count, weight, size: 376 pages | 150*225*30mm
- ISBN13: 9791139725612
- ISBN10: 1139725610
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