scheme and plan our Machiavellian strategies over days or
even months.
Brothers and sisters can go from a minor disagreement to all-
out war within minutes.
Look, retaliation can only lead to one thing—an escalation of
hostilities. That’s the story of wars the world over and
throughout history. And we’re no different in our dealings
with neighbors, colleagues, and all those other people we get
thrown together with whether we like them or not.
So how do we call an end to this madness? The cycle is only
broken when one of those involved is mature enough to see
that someone has got to bite her tongue, or hold back, to stop
it in its tracks. Someone has to be grown-up enough to turn
the other cheek, assume the moral high ground, take it like a
man**, call a halt, and just let the whole thing drop. Yes, even
when you have got a really cutting retort, or cunning master-
stroke up your sleeve. It really is sometimes better to do
nothing, say nothing. Come on, if I can do it, anyone can.
ANYONE WHO IS PREPARED
TO CUT DOWN YOUR TREE
OR STEAL YOUR IDEA
ISN’T ABOUT TO TAKE
YOUR LITTLE ACT OF
REVENGE LYING DOWN.
** Or woman, of course.