Truly from Seneca the Younger, in De Ira, Book III, Chapter V:
Aut potentior te aut inbecillior laesit: si inbecillior, parce illi, si potentior, tibi.
Misattributed
“He who has injured thee was either stronger or weaker than thee. If weaker, spare him; if stronger, spare thyself.”
De Ira (On Anger); Book III, Chapter V
Moral Essays
Original
Aut potentior te aut inbecillior laesit: si inbecillior, parce illi, si potentior, tibi.
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Seneca the Younger 225
Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist -4–65 BCRelated quotes
“2308. He that spares the Bad, injures the Good.”
Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)
“And join with thee, calm Peace and Quiet,
Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet.”
Source: Il Penseroso (1631), Line 45