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

ON ANGER, II. xxvni. 8-xxix. 3that of his slaves. The vices of others we keepbefore our eyes, our own behind our back'' ; hence ithappens "that a father who is even worse than hisson rebukes his son's untimely revels, that a mandoes not pardon another's excesses who sets no boundto his ovm, that the murderer stirs a tyrant's wrath,and the temple-robber punishes theft. It is not_^^vith the sins but with the sinners that rnost menare angry. We shall become more tolerant fromself-inspection if we cause ourselves to consider :" Have we ourselves never been guilty of such anact ? Have we never made the same mistake ? Is itexpedient for us to condemn such conduct "?T^re^est corrective of anger lies in delay. Begthis concessiorTfrbrn anger at the first, not in orderthat it may pardon, but in order that it may judge.ItsTitst as'Sanlts are heavy ; it will leave off if itwaits. And do not try to destroy it all at once ;attacked piecemeal, it will be completely conquered.Of the things which offend us some arereported to us, others we ourselves hear or see. Asto what is told us, we should not be quick to beheve ;many falsify in order that they may deceive ; manyothers, because they themselves are deceived. Onecourts our favour by making an accusation andinvents an injury in order to show that he regretsthe occurrence ; then there is the man who is spitefuland wishes to break up binding friendships, andthe one who is sharp-tongued and, eager to see thesport, watches from a safe distance the friends whomhe has brought to blows. If the question of even asmall payment should come before you to be judged,you would require a ^^itness to prove the claim, thewitness Avould have no weight except on oath, you229