A fool shows his annoyance at once
but a prudent man overlooks an insult Proverbs12:16
Someone I admire very much taught me that it is better to be too slow to respond than to be too quick.
We often mean it is a compliment when we say of someone that they don't suffer fools gladly. Unfortunately this often means that the person we're referring to is a bully who uses his or her superior position or intellect to deflect damage onto others.
It is better to be quiet than to say things that we might later regret! It is better to be slow to anger and quick to forget. It is often more effective to be quiet than to become defensive or abusive. There are times when our refusal to get involved in mudslinging marks us as people of character.
When next you are irritated or insulted by someone who seems foolish, take three mental steps back before you drop down to their level. When the situation pans out, you may be very very glad you did.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
