When you throw something at a hard surface, it bounces back and hurts you instead. The same thing happens with insults — they can't touch a truly great mind. The mind is stronger than the insult, so the insult just bounces off. How much better it is to let all wrongs and insults bounce off you, like wearing armor that no weapon can pierce. When you seek revenge, you're admitting that someone actually hurt you. A great mind doesn't get disturbed by injury. The person who hurt you is either stronger or weaker than you. If they're weaker, show mercy. If they're stronger, protect yourself.
As weapons rebound from a hard surface, and solid substances hurt those who strike them, so also no insult can make a really great mind sensible of its presence, being weaker than that against which it is aimed. How far more glorious is it to throw back all wrongs and insults from oneself, like one wearing armour of proof against all weapons, for revenge is an admission that we have been hurt. That cannot be a great mind which is disturbed by injury. He who has hurt you must be either stronger or weaker than yourself. If he be weaker, spare him: if he be stronger, spare yourself.