How much better is it to heal a wound than to get revenge? Revenge eats up time and exposes you to many more injuries while you're still hurting from the first one. We all stay angry longer than we actually feel the pain. How much better to do the opposite — don't answer one wrong with another wrong. Would anyone think he was sane if he kicked back at a mule or bit back at a dog? "Those animals," you say, "don't know they're doing wrong." Well, first of all, what kind of unfair judge are you if a person has less chance of your forgiveness than an animal? Second, if animals escape your anger because they lack reason, you should treat all foolish people the same way. If someone has the same mental darkness that excuses all the wrongdoing of dumb animals, what difference does it make if he's otherwise unlike an animal? He has sinned. Well, is this his first time, or will this be his last?
How far better is it to heal an injury than to avenge it? Revenge takes up much time, and throws itself in the way of many injuries while it is smarting under one. We all retain our anger longer than we feel our hurt: how far better it were to take the opposite course and not meet one mischief by another. Would any one think himself to be in his perfect mind if he were to return kicks to a mule or bites to a dog?” These creatures,” you say, “know not that they are doing wrong.” Then, in the first place, what an unjust judge you must be if a man has less chance of gaining your forgiveness than a beast! Secondly, if animals are protected from your anger by their want of reason, you ought to treat all foolish men in the like manner: for if a man has that mental darkness which excuses all the wrong-doings of dumb animals, what difference does it make if in other respects he be unlike a dumb animal? He has sinned. Well, is this the first time, or will this be the last time?