Discipline Is Destiny

On their way back home, Ashe's father, while driving, couldn't resist asking Thalhimer how he could remain so calm despite constant provocation. Thalhimer replied, "I came here to purchase that piece of land, and I got that piece of land. It belongs to me now, not to him. That man can go on cursing me for as long as he wants, but it doesn't change the fact that I own that land." This is what Thalhimer wanted all along. Of course, Thalhimer wished to punch the man in the face, but that might not have ended the way Thalhimer had hoped.

After any provocation, with the distance offered by the passage of time, any rational person can appreciate the calmness and self-control shown by Thalhimer. It would be fantastic if all this with Thalhimer hadn't happened. If no one was ever subjected to slurs or discrimination, if there were no bullies, and everyone was kind to us, if no one was ever deprived, judged, or assaulted. But that is not life.

Truth is, we will have to deal with people in our daily lives who may provoke us from time to time. But this doesn't mean we have to indulge ourselves and respond to such situations by losing our self-control because you have work to do. They want you to get upset. If you end up responding to every attack, then, as Lincoln said, you might as well admit defeat right now. You may never get any work done. You'll certainly never be happy. And they'll have won.