Every fool who is born
has an axe within his mouth
with which he cuts himself
when he uses wrong speech…
The worse of the two is he
who, when abused, retaliates.
One who does not retaliate
wins a battle hard to win.
The fool thinks he has won a battle
when he bullies with harsh speech,
but knowing how to be forbearing
alone makes one victorious.
– The Buddha
( Sutta Nipata 657, Samyutta Nikaya I, 162-163)
