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

ON ANGER, III. xxvii. 1-5injury ! Vengeance consumes much time, and it -iexposesthe doer to many injuries while he smarts ifrom one ; our anger always lasts longer than thehurt. How much better it is to take the oppositecourse and not to match fault with fault. Wouldany one think that he was well balanced if he repaida mule with kicks and a dog with biting ? But yousay, " Those creatures do not know that they aredoing wrong." In the first place, how unjust is hein whose eyes being a man is fatal to obtainingpardon ! In the second place, if other creaturesescape your anger for the verj' reason that theyare lacking in understanding, every man who lacksunderstanding should hold in your eyes a likeposition. For what difference does it make that hisother qualities are unlike those of dumb animals if heresembles them in the one quality that excuses dumbanimals for every misdeed—a mind that is aU darkness"? He did wrong," you say. Well, was thisthe first time ? Will it be the last time ? You neednot beUeve him even if he should say, " I will neverdo it again." He will go on sinning and some oneelse will sin against him, and the whole of life willbe a tossing about amid errors. Unkindness mustL*-be treated with kindness. The words so often 'addressed to one in grief will prove most effectivealso for a man in anger ": Will you ever desist—ornever " ? If ever, how much better it is to forsakeanger than to wait for anger to forsake you ! Orshall this turmoil continue for ever ? Do you see towhat life-long unrest you are dooming yourself ? Forwhat will be the life of one who is always swollenwith rage ? Besides, when you have successfullyinflamed yourself with passion, and have repeatedly323