The Principle
of Patience

There is an old Indian saying: “If a dog bites you, will you bite the dog back?”

This simple sentence holds a deep truth about life. We live in a world where, along with human beings, there are also those who act like “dogs”—in the sense that they may behave rudely, harmfully, or thoughtlessly. It’s inevitable that sometimes such a “dog” may metaphorically “bite” a person. But the right response is not to bite back—because doing so only worsens the situation and brings a person down to the same level.

So, if someone has the misfortune of being “bitten” by a dog, the best course is to treat the wound and move on—continue the journey of life without looking back. That’s why wise people across cultures and centuries have consistently said that anger, revenge, and enmity are negative forces, while forgiveness, forbearance, and love are the signs of true strength and growth.

Here are some timeless sayings that echo this wisdom:

•  Taking revenge makes a person like his enemy, but not taking revenge makes him far better.—Bacon

•  Don’t heat your anger for the enemy so much that it burns you instead.—Shakespeare

•  Forgiving an enemy is the best way to take revenge.—Manis Hans

•  We cannot harm others without harming ourselves.—An old saying

•  Patience is a principle of life, not a weakness.—Mahatma Gandhi

•  When two people fight, understand that both are at fault.—Dutch saying

•  Having enmity with someone blocks your own growth.—Vinoba Bhave

•  Even if your enemy is hot like iron, you need to stay cool to shape it.—Sardar Patel

•  The madness of desire stays only for a short time, but the regret lasts long.—Schiller

•  The one who never forgave an enemy missed one of life’s greatest joys.—Le Maitre

•  Where there is anger, be sure that destruction will also follow.—Goswami Tulsidas

•  A good temperament is best shown by tolerating a bad one.— Emerson

Each of these sayings reflects a deep understanding of human life. The act of forgiving someone who has wronged you is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of great strength. It is a positive action. A person who can remain composed in emotional situations and choose forgiveness shows that they have mastery over themselves. And there is no bravery greater than self-control.

Furthermore, not taking revenge is, in itself, a powerful form of revenge. When someone wrongs you and you do not respond with wrong in return, you gain many benefits. You enjoy the satisfaction of being morally superior. You close the matter instead of allowing it to drag on. You protect your time, energy, and mental peace, and redirect them toward your own growth and stability.

At the same time, your silence becomes a mirror to your opponent’s conscience. Without saying anything, you shame their hostile mindset, and you give the goodness inside them a chance to emerge. Hidden within your enemy is also a potential friend. Forgiving that person is like knocking on the door of that hidden friend.

On the other hand, if someone does wrong to you and you respond by doing wrong as well, then it means both of you are equally at fault. You would have been better only if you had responded to evil with goodness. If your actions mirror the bad behaviour of another, then what is the difference between you and them?

Control Over Speech

Thomas Fuller (1608–1661), an English writer, once said: “Birds are caught by their feet, and men by their tongues.” This reflects a deep truth—many of life’s problems arise from the careless use of speech. Reckless words can create endless difficulties, both within the home and outside it. If a person learns to control their tongue—or at the very least, remain silent in delicate situations—they can avoid many unpleasant outcomes.

All reformers and thinkers have emphasised the importance of speaking with care. Consider the following reflections:

•  “You can more easily conquer harsh words with gentle ones.”—Gautama Buddha

•  “The wound of a sword is not as deep as the wound of the tongue.”—Hindi Proverb

•  “The one who fears God finds their tongue subdued.”—Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad

•  “We are given speech to exchange pleasant words—not to hurt one another.”—Gautama Buddha

•  “A fool’s heart is in his mouth, while a wise man’s tongue is in his heart.”— Shakespeare

•  “An idle mind and a restless tongue are close companions.”—Ovid

•  “A slip of the foot can be recovered from—but a slip of the tongue may not be.”— Benjamin Franklin

•  “A fool is ruled by his tongue; a wise man rules his tongue.”—Arabic Proverb

•  “Even if your enemy says something good, do not hesitate to accept it.”—Swami Shabdanand

•  “One who speaks unpleasantly should be prepared to hear unpleasant things.”— Arabic Saying

•  “Think deeply before you speak—and you will never regret your words.”—Plato

A person who speaks kindly will be liked—even without an attractive appearance. The power of sweet and gentle speech is a rare gift. No amount of knowledge or wealth can substitute for it. Imagine two mute individuals meeting—how empty that interaction seems. But when two speaking people meet, their words can create a rich and meaningful connection. In such moments, speech becomes the bridge between hearts.

There is no sight more beautiful than two people conversing sincerely and sweetly. On the other hand, when two people begin speaking harshly, the scene becomes so unpleasant that even the speakers themselves would feel ashamed if they saw a recording of it.

The foolish think that staying quiet in the face of insult makes one appear weak. But in truth, when someone controls themselves after hearing a harsh word and responds with calmness, they demonstrate immense strength. This act of self-restraint often humbles the aggressor. Kind and measured speech is a powerful weapon—one we carry with us at all times, though few know how to use it.

One who is not disturbed by an opponent’s harsh words gains a great treasure—the ability to listen with a calm and open mind. And if there is any truth in what is said, they are able to recognise it. Many great mistakes in history happened simply because people refused to listen to their opponents with an open heart. In this light, not reacting to offensive words becomes a form of wisdom. A truly intelligent person will never deprive themselves of this free treasure.

The Importance of  Time

Napoleon (1769–1821) was one of the most famous conquerors in world history. He achieved countless victories in battle. Except for natural disasters, nothing else could defeat him. Napoleon once revealed the secret of his success in these words:

“I overcome my rivals because I recognise the value of those moments which others think mean nothing—and I immediately make use of them.”

This is an extremely important piece of wisdom. In fact, great opportunities often appear in the form of very small moments. Recognising such moments and acting without delay is one of the biggest secrets of success. At such critical times, a small effort can achieve what even large efforts may not accomplish later.

Here are a few timeless sayings that reflect this idea:

•  I wasted time, and now time is wasting me.—Shakespeare

•  Opportunity knocks on your door only once.—Proverb

•  The secret of success in life is being ready for every opportunity that comes.— Disraeli

•  The train of time runs fast for the one who stands on the side watching it. But it stops for the one who runs alongside on the parallel track at the same speed.— Einstein

•  Time is a blessing that has no substitute.—Baba Farid

•  Don’t delay doing something today, because tomorrow may never come.—Chesterfield

•  You can buy everything with a price, but time is the one thing that has no price.—Khan Khanan

•  If you love life, don’t waste time, because life is just made up of moments of time. — Franklin

•  There is no better time to begin something than right now.— English Proverb

•  Using a small opportunity correctly makes it big, and using a big opportunity wrongly makes it small.— Sweet Marden

•  Not every mistake can be undone, and not every opportunity comes again.— Arabic Saying

The greatest wealth a person has is time and opportunity—not the time that may come tomorrow, but the time that is available right now. A person who keeps waiting for the “right time” is like someone running behind a fast-moving train. Naturally, he will not catch it. What we call success is actually the ability to use time properly. And failure is simply the inability to use time well.

Time comes equally to everyone. But only those succeed who know how to take advantage of it.

Time is like ice. Suppose two people bring home equal blocks of ice. On the surface, both seem to be in the same position. But in reality, the true owner of the ice is the one who uses it right away. The person who delays—even if he holds the ice—is not its true owner. Very soon, the ice will melt and disappear, leaving nothing behind.

Time will never run after us. We have to run after time. Whatever we need to do, we must do it within the time we have. Once time is gone, we won’t get another chance to do what we had planned. The perfect moment to act for your goal is the moment you have now. If you don’t catch hold of time now, it will go so far that you will never be able to catch it again.

All India Radio, New Delhi, 2-4 December 1980