The Stoic Cure for Anger: From Reaction to Resolution

“But since the first essential is not to become angry, the second to cease being angry, and the third to cure also anger in others.”

Seneca, Dialogues and Essays, On Anger, 5

Seneca lays out the Stoic cure for anger: first, we mustn’t get angry. If we fail at doing so, then stop being angry. And if you’ve mastered these two, then it is our duty to help others do the same. That’s the Stoic cure for anger,  not suppression, but transformation.

In the Stoic view, anger is never useful. Seneca describes it as momentary insanity. It clouds judgment, poisons relationships, and pulls us away from reason. Even if the cause feels justified, the reaction rarely is. The wise person sees anger not as strength, but as weakness and a threat.

But Stoicism is not just about managing emotions, it’s about healing them at the root. And the root of anger, according to Seneca, is unrealistic expectation: the idea that fate will happen according to our wants and desires, and avoiding our aversions.

This will cause us to be fearful, filled with grief, or anxious. These often lie at the foundation of anger. Anger is rarely the primary emotion, and once we understand that, we can dive into the root cause and start our work there.

How to Apply the Stoic Cure for Anger

1. Adjust your expectations. Fate will not follow our plan. We must learn to accept whatever happens and align our expectations with the fact that anything can happen.
   
2. Pause before reacting. Practice the gap between stimulus and response. In that space, wisdom grows.
   
3. Lead by example. If you’ve learned to quiet your own anger, be a calming presence for others. The Stoic cure for anger doesn’t end with you; by setting the right example, you can free others of this emotional turmoil as well.
   

This is what Seneca meant. Anger is not something to vent or bottle up. It’s something to understand, outgrow, and dissolve, first in yourself, then in the people around you.

🔗 Want to explore more Stoic strategies? Book a free consultation with one of our Stoic Coaches or read more on the Seneca Quotes page. You can also listen to the Via Stoica podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or watch it on YouTube.

❓ FAQ: Stoic Cure for Anger

Why did Seneca see anger as harmful?
Anger distorts reason and leads us away from virtue. Stoicism teaches that reasoned calm is always more effective than rage. Seneca saw anger as momentary insanity.

How do Stoics suggest we cure anger?
By questioning our judgments, pausing before reacting, and accepting fate, we will find peace in whatever happens.