Meditations XI.9

As those who withstand thy progress along the path of right reason will never be able to turn thee aside from sound action, so let them not wrest thee from a kindly attitude towards them²⁴; but keep a watch over thyself in both directions alike, not only in steadfastness²⁵ of judgment and action but also in gentleness towards those who endeavour to stand in thy path or be in some other way a thorn in thy side. For in fact it is a sign of weakness to be wroth with them, no less than to shrink from action and be terrified into surrender. For they that do the one or the other are alike deserters of their post,²⁶ the one as a coward, the other as estranged from a natural kinsman and friend.

• 24.See x. 36, § 2 etc.
• 25.See v. 18.
• 26.See x. 25.