Moses had his Dathan and Korah, David his Shimei; God himself is blasphemed. “You are not yet fortunate if the crowd has not yet mocked you.”

It is ordinary to be treated so badly. “It is a king’s lot to be spoken ill of when he has done good.” The greatest and most discerning men are vilified in this way; let the slanderer go his way.

Just as the spirited horse in Aesop, which scorned the poor ass, soon returned ruptured and carrying a pack, and was mocked by that same ass: “They will be scorned by those whom they themselves once scorned, and laughed at by those whom they once laughed at.” Those they formerly derided will despise and mock them in turn.

Let them scorn, defame or belittle you; insult, oppress, mock, slander, abuse and wrong you; curse, swear, fabricate and lie. Take comfort in a good conscience: “rejoice within yourself.” When they have done their worst, a good conscience is a continual feast, and innocence will vindicate itself.

And, as the poet said of Hercules, “he prospers despite the anger of the gods”: enjoy your life, though the whole world is set against you.

Disregard it and say with him, “I have an inscription before my door.” My motto is “Remain unmoved”: that is my Palladium, my breastplate, my shield, with which I ward off every injury, insult, lie and slander. I lean upon that stake of self-restraint, meet the assault, and shatter all the foolish force of envy and spite.

Whoever follows these brief instructions will undoubtedly bring himself much relief and benefit.

Finally, if princes would administer justice, judges be upright, clergymen truly devout and live as they teach; if the great would be less insolent, soldiers defend us peaceably, the poor be patient, the rich generous and humble, citizens honest, magistrates gentle, superiors set a good example, subjects be peaceable, and young men show respect; if parents would be kind to their children and children in turn obey their parents, brothers agree with one another, enemies be reconciled, servants be faithful to their masters, virgins chaste, wives modest, and husbands loving and less jealous—

if we could imitate Christ and his apostles and live according to God’s laws, these troubles would not occur among us so often. But since most of us are as implacable as we are—perverse, proud, insolent, factious and malicious, prone to quarrels, anger and revenge, so hot-tempered, fault-finding, impious and irreligious, so opposed to virtue and devoid of grace—how could things be otherwise?

Many people are naturally very touchy, ready to misunderstand, quarrel, provoke others and put the worst interpretation on everything said or done. They thereby heap trouble upon themselves and disturb others: meddling in other people’s affairs, carrying tales, whispering rumours and lying. They cannot speak at the right time or hold their tongues when they should, “and likewise keep silent for their share of the time when someone else is speaking.”

In every company they speak more than their share, and through these bad habits bring much harm upon their own souls: “whoever quarrels brings abuse upon himself.” Their life is a perpetual brawl. They snarl like so many dogs at their wives, children, servants, neighbours and all their other friends; they can agree with nobody.

But people who are judicious, gentle, yielding and quiet can easily remedy these troubles. On all such occasions they will exercise restraint, disregard or scorn the offence, take no notice of it, conceal their feelings or wisely turn it aside. If it concerns a natural defect—a red nose, crossed eyes, crooked legs—or any such imperfection, infirmity, disgrace or reproach, the best course is to mention it yourself first. You will thereby deprive others of grounds for mockery or contempt, since they will see that you are unconcerned about it.

Vatinius used to mock his own deformed feet to forestall his enemies’ insults and sarcasms about them. Or take preventive action, as Cotys, king of Thrace, did: he broke with his own hands a collection of fine glasses presented to him, lest he become too angry if they were accidentally broken.

At other times, provided it is done with discretion and moderation, it may be right to resist and put an insolent fellow in his place. There is no better means of defending yourself and securing lasting peace. For whoever lets himself be ridden over, or through cowardice or stupidity allows everyone to humiliate him, will become a common laughingstock for all to mock.

It is like a cur going through a village: if he tucks his tail between his legs and runs away, every other cur will lord it over him. But if he draws himself up, stands his ground and merely snarls back, not a dog dares meddle with him. Much depends on a man’s courage and the discretion with which he conducts himself.

Many other troubles befall us in this life, arising from friends, wives, children, servants, masters, companions, neighbours, and our own faults, ignorance, errors, intemperance, indiscretion, infirmities and so on. There are many good remedies to alleviate and withstand them, many divine precepts to steady our hearts, and special antidotes in both Scripture and secular writers. Whoever observes them will gain much ease and peace of mind. I will point out a few.

Everyone knows those prophetic and apostolic admonitions, and what Solomon, the son of Sirach and our Saviour Christ himself have said to this effect: “Fear God; obey the ruler; be sober and watchful; pray continually; be angry, but do not sin; remember your end; do not conform yourselves to this world; adapt yourselves to the times; do not contend with a powerful man; repay evil with good; do nothing through rivalry or vanity, but in humility let everyone esteem others more highly than himself; love one another.”

Or take that summary of the Law and the Prophets which our Saviour impresses upon us: “Love God above all, and your neighbour as yourself”; and “Whatever you would have people do to you, do likewise to them.” Alexander Severus had this written in gold letters and used it as a motto. Jerome recommends it to Celantia as an excellent means of setting her life right amid so many enticements and worldly provocations.

From secular writers take these few counsels: “Know yourself. Be content with your lot. Do not trust wealth, beauty or flatterers: they will bring you to destruction.”