XLII
When any person does ill by you, or speaks ill of you, remember that he acts or speaks from an impression that it is right for him to do so. Now it is not possible that he should follow what appears right to you, but only what appears so to himself. Therefore, if he judges from false appearances, he is the person hurt, since he, too, is the person deceived. For if anyone takes a true proposition to be false, the proposition is not hurt, but only the man is deceived. Setting out, then, from these principles, you will meekly bear with a person who reviles you, for you will say upon every occasion, “It seemed so to him.”
This reminds me strongly of the Quakers, as explained in the excellent 1947 John Wayne movie "Angel and the Badman."
Quirt: That on the wall [indicating an inscribed plaque]. "Each human being has an integrity that can be hurt only by the act of that same human being and not by the act of another human being." Is that Quaker stuff? [Penny silently affirms the question.] You mean, nobody can hurt you but yourself?
Penny: That's a Friends' belief.
Quirt: Well, supposin' somebody whacks you over the head with a branding iron? Would that hurt?
Penny: Physically, of course. But in reality it would injure only the
person doing the act of force or violence. Only the doer can be hurt by a
mean or evil act.Quirt: Are there very many of you Quakers?
Penny: Very few.
Quirt: I sort of figured that.
There aren't a lot today, either.
3 comments:
I don't think many of those would subscribe to that idea today, either. The Society of Friends has gone through many changes over the centuries.
Yes they have. Family on my mother's side were/are Friends.
Yes, I tried to be clear that I meant it reminds me of the principle 'as explained by' this one particular movie I like. :)
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