The Anatomy of Melancholy

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.”