Many people take treating others with harmony as the highest principle and regard making concessions and seeking peace as magnanimity. So when they are offended, they smile and say it’s okay; when someone oversteps, they tell themselves not to mind. Even though, deep down, they are already furious, they still force themselves to swallow it and not react—thinking this is genuine magnanimity and open-mindedness. But you should know: every time you overstep boundaries and concede without principles, you are inflicting wounds on your own mind and body. Don’t assume that if you just endure for a moment, things will become calm and peaceful; don’t believe that taking a step back will make the world feel as vast as the open sky. There are some people in this world who won’t rein in their behavior because of your tolerance. The more you keep compromising and enduring, the more they will grow bolder and act with greater recklessness. The more you keep giving in, the more others will see you as a soft target—and the more they will push further. Don’t mistake suppressing your anger for inner strength, and don’t confuse endless, boundary-less retreat with caring about the whole world. As the book 《“忍”的思考》 puts it: when it is time to endure, you should endure—endurance is beneficial; when it is not time to endure, not enduring is right—endurance then becomes harmful. One overstep deserves a kind reminder; a second offense may be forgiven; but after a third time of trampling, there’s no need to keep up appearances. Once the opportunity has been given, there’s no need to give it again; once your tolerance has been enough, you no longer need to endure.