The Humility of Good Men

I heard that a wise man devoted to the truth was grabbed by the collar by a drunken bully. From that dark hearted man the pure souled one took a blow to the neck and calmly did not lift his head. Someone said to him: aren't you a man too? Patience is wasted on such a boor. The good natured man heard these words and told him: don't speak to me this way. An ignorant drunk may tear a wise man's collar, but who would go picking a fight with a battling lion? It does not befit a clear headed, sensible man to lay hands on the collar of an ignorant drunk. This is how a person of merit lives: he suffers cruelty and answers with kindness.