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About this quote

What does it mean?
Accept current suffering to avoid worse consequences later.
In plain terms
Put up with small problems to avoid big ones.
What can you take from it?
Endure lesser evils to avoid greater ones.

Where it applies

  • political dissent
  • workplace conflict
  • health decisions

Putting it to work

  • assess risk ratios
  • calculate long-term harm

Questions to consider

  • When is submission safe?
  • What is a greater evil?

Another view

It risks normalizing abuse or oppression.

More from Phaedrus

  1. That it is unwise to be heedless ourselves while we are giving advice to others, I will show in a few lines.

    Permalink to quote #2
  2. No one returns with good will to the place which has done him a mischief.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. Everyone is bound to bear patiently the results of his own example.

    Permalink to quote #4

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