The Best Revenge Is Not to Be Like Him

answered by Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book VI

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🎬 TODAY'S FILM — IT ASKS THIS

Unforgiven (1992)

dir. Clint Eastwood · USA

Is there really such a thing as righteous revenge? The moment of retribution seems satisfying, but taking a life cannot be undone, and its weight stays with the one who repays. When we try to balance the scale with violence, does that scale truly level again?

THE QUESTION THE FILM ASKS

In seeking to establish justice through revenge, am I turning into the very thing I hated?

THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER · ORIGINAL

ἄριστος τρόπος τοῦ ἀμύνεσθαι τὸ μὴ ἐξομοιοῦσθαι

📜 THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER

The best way of avenging yourself is not to become like the wrongdoer.

💡 TL;DR

Marcus Aurelius placed the true victory of revenge not in bringing the other down but in not becoming like him.

📝The Classic Answers

Marcus Aurelius placed the true victory of revenge not in bringing the other down but in not becoming like him. In the moment of retribution I borrow the other's method — violence — and so, little by little, grow to resemble him. The weapon raised to balance the scale ends by staining my own hand. Before what cannot be undone, I choose first to see what revenge, in the name of justice, would turn me into. The way to win is not to resemble.

— ONGO · Curator

🌱Apply It Today

If there is someone you want to repay today, gauge how much you would come to resemble him by following his method.

📖 Classic Source: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book VI. Ancient text in the public domain; rendered and interpreted independently by ONGO.
The film is honored as an equal questioner; its plot is rendered only as a universal dilemma. The classic source is an ancient text (Public Domain), and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.