Stoic Snippets 221

It is useful to perceive this, too, immediately when the occasion arises, what virtue Nature has given to man to oppose to every wrongful act. 

For she has given to man, as an antidote against the stupid man, mildness, and against another kind of man some other power. 

And in all cases it is possible for you to correct by teaching the man who is gone astray; for every man who errs misses his object and is gone astray. 

Besides, wherein have you been injured? For you will find that no one among those against whom you are irritated has done anything by which your mind could be made worse; but that which is evil to you and harmful has its foundation only in the mind. 

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 9.42 

IMAGE: P.J. Chaillou, Mildness Binding Cupid's Wings (c. 1750)