Marcus Aurelius: If he have sinned, his is the harm, not…

If someone has done wrong, the damage to their character belongs to them. You do not improve the situation by adding bitterness to your own. And Marcus leaves room for another possibility: perhaps they have not done wrong at all. Maybe you misunderstood the tone, lacked context, or interpreted a mistake as an insult. This is a powerful pair of thoughts for everyday friction. Either the person acted badly, in which case you can respond without becoming like them; or they did not, in which case anger was unnecessary from the start. Both paths lead away from outrage. That does not require you to be gullible. Check the facts, set boundaries, and address genuine harm. But do not convict people in your mind before the evidence arrives. Today, when you feel offended, delay the verdict. Ask what you know, what you assume, and what response would preserve your own character either way.