Stoic Snippets 275

When a man has presented the appearance of having done wrong, say this: 

How then do I know if this is a wrongful act? And even if he has done wrong, how do I know that he has not condemned himself? And so this is like tearing his own face. 

Consider that he who would not have the bad man do wrong, is like the man who would not have the fig tree to bear juice in the figs, and infants to cry, and the horse to neigh, and whatever else must of necessity be. 

For what must a man do who has such a character? If then you are irritable, cure this man's disposition. 

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.16 

IMAGE: Sofonisba Anguissola, Child Bitten by a Lobster (c. 1554)