1. The Beloved: You must not mind, my son, if people think ill of you and say things about you which do not make pleasant hearing. You ought to have a poorer opinion of yourself than they have, and deem no one to be weaker than yourself. If you are treading the path of the inward life, fleeting words will not carry much weight with you. It is a wise course, when trouble comes, to say nothing, and to turn inwardly to me, refusing to be upset by what men think about you.
2. You must not let your peace of mind depend on what people say about you. The construction they put on your actions may be correct or false; that doesn't make a different man of you. Where will you find true peace, real glory? It is in me, as you well know. The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace. It is from affections allowed to run wild and from baseless fears that all disquiet of heart arises, all distraction of the feelings.
2. You must not let your peace of mind depend on what people say about you. The construction they put on your actions may be correct or false; that doesn't make a different man of you. Where will you find true peace, real glory? It is in me, as you well know. The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace. It is from affections allowed to run wild and from baseless fears that all disquiet of heart arises, all distraction of the feelings.
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