We shouldn't fly into a rage even when someone seems to have clearly wronged us. Some lies look exactly like the truth. We should always give it time — time reveals what really happened. Don't be quick to believe gossip. We need to watch out for this human weakness: we're eager to believe things we don't want to hear, and we get angry before we even know the facts. What's worse? We're swayed not just by rumors but by suspicions. We might rage at innocent people just because of a look or a smile that we interpret the wrong way. So we should defend the absent person against our own assumptions. Keep your anger on hold. You can always punish someone later if needed, but once you've acted, you can't take it back.
We ought not to fly into a rage even when the injury appears to be open and distinct: for some false things bear the semblance of truth. We should always allow some time to elapse, for time discloses the truth. Let not our ears be easily lent to calumnious talk: let us know and be on our guard against this fault of human nature, that we are willing to believe what we are unwilling to listen to, and that we become angry before we have formed our opinion. What shall I say? we are influenced not merely by calumnies but by suspicions, and at the very look and smile of others we may fly into a rage with innocent persons because we put the worst construction upon it. We ought, therefore, to plead the cause of the absent against ourselves, and to keep our anger in abeyance: for a punishment which has been postponed may yet be inflicted, but when once inflicted cannot be recalled.