#1. Treat others with respect
“Do not belittle others, treat them with respect it is thy duty to be a good man, and what man’s nature demands, do that without turning aside; and speak as it seems to thee most just, only let it be with a good disposition and with modesty and without hypocrisy”
#2. If someone else is angry at you or even hates you, do not be disturbed. Even if they are liars and unjust men, react calmly and with intelligence. You can choose how to react. You can choose to react peacefully and with kindness. Your kindness will overcome their hostility. Show them where they have gone astray and help them become better.
“These it is thy duty to observe and without being disturbed or showing anger towards those who are angry with thee to go on thy way and finish that which is set before thee
One thing here is worth a great deal, to pass thy life in truth and justice, with a benevolent disposition even to liars and unjust men
Whatever any one does or says, I must be good, just as if the gold, or the emerald, or the purple were always saying this, Whatever any one does or says, I must be emerald and keep my colour
Shall any man hate me? Let him look to it. But I will be mild and benevolent towards every man, and ready to show even him his mistake, not reproachfully, nor yet as making a display of my endurance, but nobly and honestly, Men despise one another and flatter one another; and men wish to raise themselves above one another, and crouch before one another”
#3. When you’re being kind and true (not faking kindness), even the most violent person will eventually soften. Help them by being kind and by explaining their errors calmly. When someone is against you, they are not hurting you, but only hurting themselves.
“Consider that a good disposition is invincible, if it be genuine, and not an affected smile and acting a part. For what will the most violent man do to thee, if thou continuest to be of a kind disposition towards him, and if, as opportunity offers, thou gently admonishest him and calmly correctest his errors at the very time when he is trying to do thee harm, saying, Not so, my child: we are constituted by nature for something else: I shall certainly not be injured, but thou art injuring thyself, my child.- And show him with gentle tact and by general principles that this is so, and that even bees do not do as he does, nor any animals which are formed by nature to be gregarious. And thou must do this neither with any double meaning nor in the way of reproach, but affectionately and without any rancour in thy soul; and not as if thou wert lecturing him, nor yet that any bystander may admire, but either when he is alone, and if others are present”
#4. Both hate and flattery must be avoided because they are not beneficial to anyone or the whole.
“Thou must equally avoid flattering men and being veied at them, for both are unsocial and lead to harm”
#5. Be open, and willing to listen to reason.
“If any man is able to convince me and show me that I do not think or act right, I will gladly change; for I seek the truth by which no man was ever injured. But he is injured who abides in is error and ignorance”
