Marcus Aurelius on the best kind of revenge. From Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, about 175 AD.
In 175, a false report spread that Marcus Aurelius was dead. Avidius Cassius, the general in charge of the whole East, declared himself emperor.
Marcus was far away, fighting on the Danube. In the speech the historian Dio gives him, he speaks to his troops in grief, not anger. The plot, he says, came from his dearest friend.
In 175, the general Avidius Cassius rebelled against Marcus Aurelius on a false report of his death. Dio says Marcus hoped to forgive him. When Cassius was killed, Marcus would not look at his head and asked the Senate to spare the rebels. His notebook says the best revenge is not to become like the one who wronged you.
Hit back in kind, and they win twice: once with the hurt, once with who you became. Practical advice: when you want revenge, wait a day before you answer.
Well established · checked against 4 sourcesWrite the reply you want to send, then wait a day before sending anything.
“A friend spread lies about me, and I want to get back at them. What should I do instead?”
Don’t Become What Hurt You and the other 11 ideas of Meditations, a minute at a time.
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