When a poor man is in trouble, it helps him to know that even the rich and powerful face disasters. A man cries more peacefully over his dead son in his little shack when he sees a sad funeral coming from the palace too. The same goes for insults and injuries — you handle them better when you remember that no one is so powerful they can't be hurt. If even the wisest people make mistakes, who can't find a good excuse for their own faults? Think back to when you were young. How often were you lazy with your duties? How often did you speak rudely or drink too much? When someone is angry with you, give them time to think about what they've done. They'll correct themselves. But even if they deserve to be punished for their actions, that's no reason for us to act the same way they do.
As it is a consolation to a humble man in trouble that the greatest are subject to reverses of fortune, and a man weeps more calmly over his dead son in the corner of his hovel if he sees a piteous[10] funeral proceed out of the palace as well; so one bears injury or insult more calmly if one remembers that no power is so great as to be above the reach of harm. Indeed, if even the wisest do wrong, who cannot plead a good excuse for his faults? Let us look back upon our own youth, and think how often we then were too slothful in our duty, too impudent in our speech, too intemperate in our cups. Is anyone angry? then let us give him enough time to reflect upon what he has done, and he will correct his own self. But suppose he ought to pay the penalty of his deeds: well, that is no reason why we should act as he does.