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BUT you must certainly know that in general he plays a stronger part
who subjects his own will to his brother's, than he who is found to be the
more pertinacious in defending and clinging to his own decisions. For the
former by bearing and putting up with his neighbour gains the character of
being strong and vigorous, while the latter gains that of being weak and
sickly, who must be pampered and petted so that sometimes for the sake of
his peace and quiet it is a good thing to relax something even in necessary
matters. And indeed in this he need not fancy that he has lost anything of
his own perfection, though by yielding he has given up something of his
intended strictness, but on the contrary he may be sure that he has gained
much more by his virtue of long-suffering and patience. For this is the
Apostle's command: "Ye who are strong should bear the infirmities of the
weak;" and: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ." For a weak man will never support a weak man, nor can one who
is suffering in the same way, bear or cure one in feeble health, but one
who is himself not subject to infirmity brings remedies to one in weak
health. For it is rightly said to him: "Physician, heal thyself."
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