100 Plutarch - How to Profit by One's Enemies

How to Profit by One's Enemies Plutarch (c.100 AD) Annotation of text copyright ©2007 David Tru!ull" Agathon A##ociate#. All $ight# $e#erved. Tran#lated !y %ohn &artcliffe" 'ello of ing*# +ollege in +a!ridge. ,dition !y -illia -. oodin" /o#ton ittle" /ron" and +o." 17. Plutarch o!#erve# that enity and ill3ill are ever pre#ent aong en" and that even friend# ill fall into 4uarrel#. 516ot to ention" +orneliu# Pulcher" your gentle a# ell a# #8ilful adini#tration of pu!lic affair#" for hich goodne## and huanity you have gotten an intere#t in an8ind" e clearly perceive that in your private conver#ation you have ade a 4uiet and peacea!le ay of living your choice and continual practice. /y thi# ean# you are 9u#tly e#teeed a u#eful e!er of the coonealth in general" and al#o a friendly affa!le copanion to tho#e ho fa iliarly conver#e ith you" a# !eing a  per#on free fro all #our" #our" rough" and peevi#h huor#. huor#. 'or" a# it i# #aid of +rete" e ay !y great chance di#cover one #ingle region of the orld that never afforded any den# or covert# for ild !ea#t#. /ut through the long #ucce##ion of age#" even to thi# tie" there #carce ever a# a #tate or 8ingdo that hath not #uffered under envy" hatred" hatred" eulation :1:" the love of #trife" fierce and unruly pa##ion#" of all other# the o#t productive of enity and ill3ill aong en. a y" if nothing el#e ill !ring it to pa##" failiarity ill at la#t !reed contept" and the very friend#hip of en doth fre4uently dra the into 4uarrel# that prove #harp and #oetie# iplaca!le. -hich that i#e an +hilo did ell under#tand" ho" hen he heard another a##ert that he had no eney" a#8ed hi very pertinently hether he had no friend. ;n y 9udgent therefore it i# a!#olutely nece##ary that a an" e#pecially if he #it at the hel and  !e engaged to #teer the governent" governent" #hould atchfully atchfully o!#erve every po#ture po#ture and otion of hi# eney" and #u!#cri!e to later !y exploiting > the ild !ea#t#" #o the i#e an gain# advantage fro" a# ell a# guard# again#t" hi# eneie#. 526 ?ur ance#tor# ere ell #ati#fied and content if they could #afely guard the#elve# fro the violent incur#ion# of ild !ea#t#" and thi# a# the end and o!9ect of all their conte#t# ith the#e creature#. /ut their po#terity ha# laid don their eapon# of defen#e" and ha# invented a 4uite contrary u#e of the" a8ing the #ervicea!le to #oe of the chief end# of huan life. 'or their fle#h #erve# for food" and their hair for clothing= edicine# and antidote# are devi#ed out of their entrail#= and their #8in# are converted into aror. @o that e ay upon good ground# fear that" if the#e #upplie# #hould fail" their anner of life ould appear #avage" de#titute of  convenient food and raient" !ar!arou# and na8ed. Although e receive the#e !enefit# and cofort# fro the ver y !ea#t#" yet #oe en #uppo#e the#elve# happy and #ecure enough" provided they e#cape all har fro eneie#" not regarding
/ecau#e then e cannot live in thi# orld out of the neigh!orhood of #uch a# ill continually la!or to do u# in9ury or oppo#e u#" let u# #earch out #oe ay here!y thi# advantage and profit fro eneie# ay  !e ac4uired. The !e#t experienced gardener cannot #o change the nature of every tree" that it #hall yield plea#ant and ell3ta#ted fruit= neither can the craftie#t hunt#an tae every !ea#t. ?ne therefore a8e# the !e#t u#e he can of hi# tree#" the other of hi# !ea#t= although the fir#t perhap# are !arren and dry" the latter ild and ungoverna!le. @o #eaater i# unhole#oe and not to !e drun8= yet it afford# nouri#hent to all #ort# of fi#h" and #erve# a# it ere for a chariot to convey tho#e ho vi#it foreign countrie#. The @atyr ould have 8i##ed and e!raced the fire the fir#t tie he #a it= !ut Proetheu# !id# hi ta8e heed" el#e he ight have cau#e to laent the lo## of hi# !eard" if he cae too near that hich !urn# all it touche#. et thi# very fire i# a o#t !eneficial thing to an8ind= it !e#to# upon u# the !le##ing# !oth of light and heat" and #erve# tho#e ho 8no ho to u#e it for the o#t excellent in#truent of echanic art#. Directed !y the#e exaple#" e ay !e a!le to ta8e right ea#ure# of our eneie#" con#idering that !y one handle or other e ay lay hold of the for the u#e and !enefit of our live#= though otheri#e they ay appear very intracta!le and hurtful to u#. ;n chapter# three through eleven" Plutarch #et# forth nine ay# in hich an eney ay !e profita!le to one. There are any thing# hich" hen e have o!tained the !y uch la!or and #eat" !ecoe nau#eou#" ungrateful" and directly contrary to our inclination#= !ut there are #oe (you 8no) ho can turn the very indi#po#ition# of their !odie# into an occa#ion of re#t and freedo fro !u#ine##. And hard  pain# that have fallen upon any en have rendered the only the ore ro!u#t through vigorou# exerci#e. There are other# ho" a# Diogene# and +rate# did" have ade !ani#hent fro their native country and lo## of all their good# a ean# to pa## out of a trou!le#oe orld into the 4uiet and #erene #tate of philo#ophy and ental conteplation. @o the @toic Beno :2: elcoed the good fortune" hen he heard the #hip a# !ro8en herein hi# adventure# ere" !ecau#e #he had reduced hi to a torn coat" to the #afety and innocence of a ean and lo condition. 'or a# #oe creature# of #trong con#titution# eat #erpent# and dige#t the ell"Cnay" there are #oe ho#e #toach# can !y a #trange poerful heat concoct #hell# or #tone#"Chile on the contrary" there are the ea8 and di#ea#ed" ho loathe even !read and ine" the o#t agreea!le and !e#t #upport# of huan life= #o the fooli#h and incon#iderate #poil the very friend#hip# they are engaged in" !ut the i#e and prudent a8e good u#e of the hatred and enity of en. (1) A# an eney put# one on guard to a8e no i##tep to one*# on di#advantage and to the advantage of the eney" e ay #ay that an eney teache# circu#pection. 56 To tho#e then ho are di#creet and cautiou#" the o#t alignant and or#t part of enity !ecoe# advantageou# and u#eful. /ut hat i# thi# you tal8 of all thi# hileE An eney i# ever diligent and atchful to contrive #tratage# and lay #nare# for u#" not oitting any opportunity here!y he ay carr y on hi# aliciou# purpo#e#. &e lay# #iege to our hole life" and turn# #py into the inute#t action of it= not a# ynceu# i# #aid to loo8 into oa8# and #tone#" !ut !y art# of in#inuation he get# to the 8noledge of our #ecret#" !y our !o#o friend" doe#tic #ervant" and intiate ac4uaintance. A# uch a# po##i!ly he can" he en4uire# hat e have done" and la!or# to dive into the o#t hidden coun#el# of our ind#. ay" our friend# do often e#cape our notice" either hen they die or are #ic8" !ecau#e e are carele## and neglect the= !ut e are apt to exaine and  pry curiou#ly alo#t into the very drea# of our eneie#.  o our eney (to gratify hi# ill3ill toard# u#) doth ac4uaint hi#elf ith the infiritie# !oth of our

 !odie# and ind" ith the de!t# e have contracted" and ith all the difference# that ari#e in our failie#" all hich he 8no# a# ell" if not !etter" than our#elve#. &e #tic8# fa#t to our fault#" and chiefly a8e# hi# invidiou# rear8# upon the. ay" our o#t depraved affection#" that are the or#t di#teper# of our ind#" are alay# the #u!9ect# of hi# in4uiry= 9u#t a# vulture# pur#ue putrid fle#h" noi#oe and corrupted carca##e#" !ecau#e they have no perception of tho#e that are #ound and in health. @o our eneie# catch at our failing#" and then they #pread the a!road !y uncharita!le and ill3natured report#. &ence e are taught thi# u#eful le##on for the direction and anageent of our conver#ation# in the orld that e reain circu#pect and ary in ever ything e #pea8 or do" a# if our eney alay# #tood at our el!o and overloo8ed every action. &ence e learn to lead !laele## and inoffen#ive live#. Thi# ill !eget in u# veheent de#ire# and earne#t endeavor# of re#training di#orderly pa##ion#. Thi# ill fill our ind# ith good thought# and editation#" and ith #trong re#olution# to proceed in a virtuou# and harle## cour#e of life. 'or a# tho#e coonealth# and citie# 8no !e#t ho to value the happine## of having good and hole#oe la#" and o#t adire and love the #afet y of a 4uiet and peacea!le con#titution of thing#" hich have !een hara##ed !y ar# ith their neigh!or# or !y long expedition#= #o tho#e per#on# ho have  !een !rought to live #o!erly !y the fear and ae of eneie#" ho have learned to guard again#t negligence and idlene##" and to do everything ith a vie to #oe profita!le end" are !y degree# (they 8no not ho) dran into a ha!it of living #o a# to offend no!ody" and their anner# are copo#ed and fixed in their o!edience to virtue !y cu#to and u#e" ith very little help fro the rea#on. 'or they alay# carry in their ind# that #aying of &oer" if e act anything ai##" Pria ill laugh at u#" and all hi# !rood= ...our eneie# ill plea#e the#elve# and #coff at our defect#= therefore e ill do nothing that i# ridiculou#" #inful" !a#e" or igno!le" le#t e !ecoe a laughing3#toc8 to #uch a# do not love u#. ;n the theatre e often #ee great arti#t# in u#ic and #inging very #upine and re i##" doing nothing a# they #hould" hil#t they play or #ing alone= !ut henever they challenge one another and contend for a#tery" they do not only rou#e up the#elve#" !ut they tune their in#truent# ore carefully" they are ore curiou# in the choice of their #tring#" and they try their note# in fre4uent and ore haroniou# con#ort#. %u#t #o a an ho hath an adver#ary perpetually to rival hi in the ell ordering of hi# life and reputation i# there!y rendered ore prudent in hat he doe#" loo8# after hi# action# ore circu#pectly" and ta8e# a# uch care of the accuratene## of the a# the u#ician doe# of hi# lute or organ. 'or evil hath thi# peculiar 4uality in it" that it dread# an eney ore than a friend. 'or thi# cau#e a#ica ::" hen #oe thought the $oan affair# ere e#ta!li#hed for ever in peace and #afety" after they had raFed +arthage and en#laved reece" declared that even then they ere in the greate#t danger of all and o#t li8ely to !e undone" !ecau#e there ere none left ho the y ight #till fear and #tand in #oe ae of. (2) A# nothing vexe# an eney ore than for hi to #ee the one he ould har honored a# a virtuou# an" e ay #ay that an eney goad# one to righteou#ne##. 5G6 And here ay !e in#erted that i#e and facetiou# an#er of Diogene# to one that a#8ed hi ho he ight !e revenged of hi# eney the only ay" #ay# he" to gall and fret hi effectually i# for your#elf to appear a good and hone#t an. The coon people are generally enviou# and vexed in their ind#" a# often a# they #ee the cattle of tho#e they have no 8indne## for" their dog#" or their hor#e#" in a thriving condition= they #igh" fret" #et their

teeth" and #ho all the to8en# of a aliciou# teper" hen they !ehold their field# ell tilled" or their garden# adorned and !e#et ith floer#. ;f the#e thing# a8e the #o re#tle## and unea#y" hat do#t thou thin8 they ould do" hat a torent ould it !e to the" if thou #hould deon#trate thy#elf in the face of the orld to !e in all thy carriage a an of ipartial 9u#tice" a #ound under#tanding" un3!laa!le integrity" of a ready and elo4uent #peech" #incere and upright in all your dealing#" #o!er and te perate in all that you eat or drin8= -hile fro the culture of a prudent ind" &arve#t# of i#e and no!le thought you reap. Tho#e that are con4uered" #ay# Pindar" u#t #eal up their lip#= they dare not open their outh#" no" not even to utter. /ut all en in the#e circu#tance# are not #o re#trained= !ut #uch chiefly a# coe !ehind their oppo#ite# in the practice of diligence" hone#ty" greatne## of ind" huanity" and !eneficence. The#e are !eautiful and gloriou# virtue#" a# Deo#thene# #ay#" that are too pure and great to !e touched !y an ill tongue= that #top the outh# of !ac8!iter#" cho8e the and coand the to !e #ilent. Ha8e it thy  !u#ine## therefore to #urpa## the !a#e= for thi# #urely thou can#t do. ;f e ould vex the that hate u#" e u#t not reproach our adver#ary for an effeinate and de!auched per#on" or one of a !oori#h and filthy conver#ation= !ut in#tead of throing thi# dirt" e our#elve# u#t !e rear8a!le for a #teady virtue and a ell3governed !ehavior= e u#t #pea8 the truth" and carry our#elve# civilly and 9u#tly toard# all ho hold any corre#pondence or aintain any coerce ith u#. /ut if at any tie a an i# #o tran#ported !y  pa##ion a# to utter any !itter ord#" he u#t ta8e heed that he hi#elf !e not chargea!le for tho#e crie# for hich he up!raid# other#= he u#t de#cend into hi#elf" exaine and clean#e hi# on !rea#t" that no  putrefaction nor rottenne## !e lodged there= otheri#e he ill !e condened a# the phy#ician i# !y the tragedian 5,uripide#6C  -ilt thou heal other#" thou thy#elf !eing full of #ore#E ;f a an #hould 9eer you and #ay that you are a dunce and illiterate" upon thi# otive you ought to appl y your ind to the ta8ing of pain# in the #tudy of philo#ophy and all 8ind# of learning. ;f he a!u#e# you for a coard" then rai#e up your ind to a courageou# anline## and an undaunted !oldne## of #pirit. ;f he tell# you that you are la#civiou# and anton" thi# #candal ay !e iped off !y having your ind !arred up again#t all ipre##ion# of lu#t" and your di#cour#e free fro the lea#t o!#cenity. The#e are alloa!le return#" and the o#t cutting #tro8e# you can give your eney= there !eing nothing that carrie# in it ore vexation and di#grace than that #candalou# cen#ure #hould fall !ac8 upon the head of hi ho a# the fir#t author of the. 'or a# the !ea# of the #un rever!erated do o#t #everely affect and puni#h ea8 eye#" #o tho#e calunie# are o#t vexatiou# and intolera!le hich truth retort# !ac8 upon their fir#t  !roacher#. 'or a# the north3ea#t ind gather# cloud#" #o too doe# a viciou# life gather unto it#elf oppro!riou# #peech. () A# a fault ought to !e rooted out !efore an eney di#cover# and #eiFe# on it a# a ea8ne## to exploit" e ay #ay that an eney drive# one to healthful intro#pection. 5I6 ;n#ouch that Plato" hen he a# in copany ith any per#on# that ere guilty of unhand#oe action#" a# ont thu# to reflect upon hi#elf and a#8 thi# 4ue#tion" A ; of the li8e teper and di#po#ition ith the#e enE ;n li8e anner" ho#oever  pa##e# a hard cen#ure upon another an*# life #hould pre#ently a8e u#e of #elf3exaination" and en4uire hat hi# on i#= !y hich ean# he ill coe to 8no hat hi# failing# are" and ho to aend the.

Thu# the very cen#ure# and !ac83!iting of hi# ene y ill redound to hi# advantage" although in it#elf thi# cen#oriou# huor i# a very vain" e pty" and u#ele## thing. 'or every one ill laugh at and deride that an ho i# hup!ac8ed and !aldpated" hile at the #ae tie he a8e# #port ith the natural deforitie# of hi# !rethren= it !eing a very ridiculou# unaccounta!le thing to #coff at another for tho#e ver y iperfection# for hich you your#elf ay !e a!u#ed. A# eo /yFantinu# replied upon the hup!ac8ed an" ho in drollery reflected on the ea8ne## of hi# eye#" 3 ou oc8 e for a huan infirity" !ut you  !ear the ar8# of divine vengeance on your on !ac8. -herefore no an #hould arraign another of adultery" hen he hi#elf i# addicted to a ore !e#tial vice= neither ay one an 9u#tly accu#e another of extravagance or loo#ene##" hen he hi#elf i# #tingy and covetou#. Alcaeon told Adra#tu#" that he a# near a8in to a oan that 8illed her hu#!and= to hich Adra#tu# gave a very pat and #harp an#er"CThou ith thy on hand# did#t urder thy other. After the #ae #arca#tic ay of 9e#ting did Doitiu# a#8 +ra##u# hether he did not eep for the death of the laprey that a# !red in hi# fi#h pond= to hich +ra##u# a8e# thi# pre#ent reply"C/ut have ; not heard that you did not eep hen you carried out three ive# to their !urial. -hence e ay infer that it !ehoove# every an ho ta8e# upon hi to correct or cen#ure another not to  !e too claorou# or erry upon hi# fault#" !ut to !e guilty of no #uch crie a# ay expo#e hi to the cha#ti#eent and reproach of other#. 'or the great od #ee# to have given that coandent of 8no thy#elf to tho#e en ore e#pecially ho are apt to a8e rear8# upon other en*# action# and forget the#elve#. @o" a# @ophocle# hath ell o!#erved" 3 They often hear that hich they ould not" !ecau#e they allo the#elve# the li!erty of tal8ing hat they plea#e. (G) A# the eney i# 8een to #ee and declai even one*# #all fir#t #tep# in the rong path" e ay #ay that an eney di#cover# to one the incipient tendency toard naughtine## in the !ud !efore it floer# into a de#tructive pa##ion. 5J6 Thi# i# the u#e that ay !e lafully ade of cen#uring and 9udging our eneie#= that e ay !e #ure e are not culpa!le for the #ae i#deeanor# hich e conden in the. ?n the contrary" e ay reap no le## advantage fro our !eing 9udged and cen#ured ! y our eneie#. ;n thi# ca#e Anti#thene# #po8e incopara!ly ell that if a an ould lead a #ecure and !laele## life" it a# nece##ary that he #hould have either very ingenuou# and hone#t friend#" or ver y furiou# eneie#" !ecau#e the fir#t ould 8eep hi fro #inning !y their 8ind adonition#" the latter !y their evil ord# and veheent invective#. /ut for a# uch a# in the#e tie# friend#hip i# gron alo#t #peechle##" and hath left off that freedo it did once u#e" #ince it i# lo4uaciou# in flattery and du! in adonition" therefore e u#t expect to hear truth only fro the outh# of eneie# :G:. A# Telephu#" hen he could find no phy#ician that he could confide in a# hi# friend" thought hi# adver#ary*# lance ould o#t pro!a!ly heal hi# ound= #o he that hath no friend to give hi advice and to reprove hi in hat he act# ai## u#t !ear patiently the re!u8e# of an eney" and there!y learn to aend the error# of hi# ay#= con#idering #eriou#ly the o!9ect hich the#e #evere cen#ure# ai at" and not hat the per#on i# ho a8e# the. 'or a# he ho de#igned the death of Proetheu# the The##alian" in#tead of giving the fatal !lo" only lanced a #elling that he had" hich did really pre#erve hi# life and free hi fro the haFard of approaching death= 9u#t #o ay the har#h reprehen#ion# of eneie# cure #oe di#teper# of the ind that ere !efore either un8non or neglected" though the#e angry #peeche# do originally proceed fro alice and ill3ill. /ut any" hen they are accu#ed of a crie" do not con#ider hether they are guilty of the atter alleged again#t the"  !ut are rather #olicitou# hether the accu#er hath nothing that ay !e laid to hi# charge= li8e the

co!atant# in a atch at re#tling" they ta8e no care to ipe off the dirt that #tic8# upon the" !ut they go on to !e#ear one another" and in their utual #truggling they allo and tu!le into ore dirt and filthine##. ;t i# a atter of greater iportance and concern to a an hen he i# la#hed !y the #lander# of an eney"  !y living virtuou#ly to prevent and avert all o!9ection# that ay !e ade hi# life" than it i# to #cour the #pot# out of hi# clothe# hen they are #hon hi. And even if any an ith oppro!riou# language o!9ect to you crie# you 8no nothing of" you ought to en4uire into the cau#e# and rea#on# of #uch fal#e accu#ation#" that you ay learn to ta8e heed for the future and !e very ary" le#t unittingly you #hould coit tho#e offence# that are un9u#tly attri!uted to you" or #oething that coe# near the. acyde#" 8ing of the Argive#" a# a!u#ed a# an effeinate per#on" !ecau#e he ore hi# hair long" u#ed to dre## hi# #elf neatly" and hi# ien a# finical. @o Popey" though he a# very far fro any effeinate #oftne##" yet a# reflected upon and 9eered for !eing u#ed to #cratch hi# head ith one of hi# finger# :I:. +ra##u# al#o #uffered uch in the li8e 8ind" !ecau#e #oetie# he vi#ited a ve#tal virgin and #hoed great attention to her" having a de#ign to purcha#e of her a little far that lay conveniently for hi :J:. @o Po#tuia a# #u#pected of uncha#te action#" and a# even !rought to trial" !ecau#e #he ould often !e very cheerful and di#cour#e freely in en*# copany. /ut #he a# found clear of all anner of guilt in that nature. everthele## at her di#i##al" @puriu# Hinuciu# the Pontifex Haxiu# gave her thi# good adonition" that her ord# #hould !e alay# a# pure" cha#te" and ode#t a# her life a#. Thei#tocle# :7:" though he had offended in nothing" yet a# #u#pected of treachery ith Pau#ania#" !ecau#e he corre#ponded failiarly ith hi" and u#ed every day to #end hi letter# and e##enger#. (I) A# the eney i# ingeniou# in fa#tening on any preten#e for adverti#ing the fault# in hi# pre y" e ay #ay that an eney teache# one to avoid even the appearance of evil and the near occa#ion of #in. 576 -henever then anything i# #po8en again#t you that i# not true" do not pa## it !y or de#pi#e it !ecau#e it i# fal#e" !ut forthith exaine your#elf" and con#ider hat you have #aid or done" hat you have ever underta8en" or hat conver#e you have ever had that ay have given li8elihood to the #lander= and hen thi# i# di#covered" decline for the future all thing# that a y provo8e any reproachful or foul language fro other#. 'or if trou!le# and difficultie#" into hich #oe en fall either ! y chance or through their on inadvertency and ra#hne##" ay teach other# hat i# fit and #afe for the to do"Ca# Herope #ay#" 'ortune hath ta8en for her #alary Hy deare#t good#" !ut i#do #he hath given= ...hy #hould not e ta8e an eney for our tutor" ho ill in#truct u# grati# in tho#e thing# e 8ne not  !eforeE 'or an eney #ee# and under#tand# ore in atter# relating to u# than our friend# do= !ecau#e love i# !lind" a# Plato #ay#" in di#cerning the iperfection# of the thing !eloved. /ut #pite" alice" ill3ill" rath" and contept tal8 uch" are very in4ui#itive and 4uic83#ighted. -hen &iero a# up!raided !y hi# eney for having a #tin8ing !reath" he returned hoe and deanded of hi# ife hy #he had not ac4uainted hi ith it. The innocent good oan a8e# thi# an#er ; thought all en*# !reath had that #ell. 'or tho#e thing# in en that are con#picuou# to all are #ooner under#tood fro the inforation of eneie# than fro that of friend# and ac4uaintance.

(J) A# the eney #trive# to provo8e one to un!ecoing out!ur#t# of inteperate #peech" e ay #ay that an eney teache# one to hold one*# tongue and !ear patiently under a!u#e. 56 'urtherore" an exact governent of the tongue i# a #trong evidence of a good ind" and no incon#idera!le part of virtue. /ut #ince every an naturally i# de#irou# to propagate hi# conceit#" and ithout a painful force cannot #other hi# re#entent#" it i# no ea#y ta#8 to 8eep thi# unruly e!er in due #u!9ection" unle## #uch an ipetuou# affection a# anger !e thoroughly #u!dued !y uch exerci#e" care" and #tudy. 'or #uch thing# a# #aying Klet fall again#t our ill"L or Ka ord flying !y the range of our teeth"L or Ka #peech e#caping u# ! y accident"L are all li8ely to happen to tho#e ho#e ill3exerci#ed ind# (a# it ere) fall and a#te aa y" and ho#e cour#e of life i# licentiou#= and e a y attri!ute thi# to ha#ty pa##ion or to un#ettled 9udgent. 'or  divine Plato tell# u# that for a ord" hich i# the lighte#t of all thing#" !oth od# and en inflict the heavie#t penaltie#. /ut #ilence" hich can never !e called to account" doth not only" a# &ippocrate# hath o!#erved" extingui#h thir#t" !ut it !ear# up again#t all anner of #lander# ith the con#tancy of @ocrate# and the courage of &ercule#" ho a# no ore concerned than a fly at hat other# #aid or did. o it i# certainly not grander or !etter than thi# for a an to !ear #ilently and 4uietly the reviling of an eney" ta8ing care not to provo8e hi" a# if he ere #iing !y a dangerou# roc8= !ut the practice i# !etter. 'or ho#oever i# thu# accu#toed to endure patiently the #coff# of an eney ill" ithout any di#tur!ance or trou!le" !ear ith the chiding# of a ife" the re!u8e# of a friend" or the #harper reproof# of a !rother. -hen a father or other correct# you" you ill not !e refractory or #tu!!orn under the rod.