You can be certain that you should not condemn your brother by the fact that you have had to repent hundreds of times for doing so but never for not having done it.
When you see that someone is deluded, do not get angry at him: understand that it is impossible to be wrong on purpose. No one wants their reason to be clouded. The deluded person sincerely takes a lie for the truth.
But it also happens that people who are not deluded intentionally refuse to accept the truth even when it is revealed to them in complete clarity. They refuse to accept it not because they do not understand it, but because it exposes their evil deeds and deprives them of excuses for their vices. Again, it is not anger that these people deserve, but compassion, because their disease is not of the body, but of the soul.
— Epictetus
Time passes, but the uttered word remains.
If a crowd hates someone then, before passing judgment, one must carefully investigate the reason why. If a crowd has taken a liking to someone, one must again carefully investigate it before passing judgment.
— Chinese wisdom
To bridle one’s tongue is a mark of great virtue.
— From “Devout Thoughts”
Our anxieties depend predominantly on our trying to improve others while forgetting that we should be improving ourselves.
— Lucy Mallory
The human soul does not turn away from truth and goodness willingly, but by force: the clearer you understand this, the gentler you will treat people.
— Marcus Aurelius
If you feel the need to criticize your neighbor, then criticize him to his face. And criticize him in a way that does not provoke unkind feelings towards you.
