The best way to avenge yourself is to not be like that. -MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 6.6 How much better to heal than seek revenge from injury. Vengeance wastes a lot of time and exposes you to many more injuries than the first that sparked it. Anger always outlasts hurt. Best to take the opposite course. Would anyone think it normal to return a kick to a mule or a bite to a dog? -SENECA, ON ANGER, 3.27.2
Marcus Aurelius emphasizes the importance of responding to offense with personal growth rather than vengeance. Instead of seeking retaliation, which can lead to a cycle of anger and further harm, he advocates for healing and self-improvement as the true form of justice. By not stooping to the level of those who wrong us, we rise above the injury and cultivate a better path for ourselves.
Seneca echoes this sentiment by pointing out the futility of revenge, comparing it to retaliating against an animal that attacks us. He argues that returning aggression only prolongs our suffering and leads to more damage. Both philosophers urge us to choose a path of resilience and healing over one of anger and revenge, highlighting that maintaining our dignity and emotional well-being is far more valuable than responding in kind to insult.
