--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cato, being scurrilously treated by a low…" description: "\"Cato, being scurrilously treated by a low and vicious fellow, quietly said to him, \"A contest between us is very unequal, for thou canst bear ill langu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/seneca-the-younger-219_abusive_cato-being-scurrilously-treated-by-a-low_1803331.jpg" --- # Cato, being scurrilously treated by a low and vicious… ![“Cato, being scurrilously treated by a low and vicious fellow, quietly said to him, "A contest between us is very unequal, for thou canst bear ill language with ease, and return it with pleasure; but to me it is unusual to hear, and disagreeable to speak it." There are none more abusive to others…” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/seneca-the-younger-219_abusive_cato-being-scurrilously-treated-by-a-low_1803331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/seneca-the-younger-219_abusive_cato-being-scurrilously-treated-by-a-low_1803331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/seneca-the-younger-219_abusive_cato-being-scurrilously-treated-by-a-low_1803331.jpg) > “Cato, being scurrilously treated by a low and vicious fellow, quietly said to him, "A contest between us is very unequal, for thou canst bear ill language with ease, and return it with pleasure; but to me it is unusual to hear, and disagreeable to speak it." There are none more abusive to others than they that lie most open to it themselves; but the humor goes round, and he that laughs at me today will have somebody to laugh at him tomorrow.” [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seneca warns that those who easily endure insults and retaliate are often the most abusive, and that humor can turn against its source. **In simple terms:** Easily insulted people may be the most abusive; humor can backfire. Key Takeaway Beware of using insults as humor and recognize the cycle of abuse. Themes humor abuse justice Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal disputes - online trolling - workplace conflicts - political rhetoric Key Concepts Stoicism ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - What does this say about the nature of retaliation? - How can one respond to insults without perpetuating abuse? A Different Perspective Humor may be used defensively, not always maliciously. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Cato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cato/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [What should a wise person do when given a blow? Same as Cato when he was attacked; not fire up or revenge the insult.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/what-should-a-wise-person-do-when-given-a-blow-same-as-cato-when-he/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Nihil tam acerbum est in quo non æquus animus solatium inveniat. There is nothing so disagreeable, that a patient mind can not find some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nihil-tam-acerbum-est-in-quo-non-quus-animus-solatium-inveniat-there/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Cato kneels beside Clove, spear in hand, begging her to stay with him. In a moment, he will realize it's futile, she can't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/cato-kneels-beside-clove-spear-in-hand-begging-her-to-stay-with-him/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [The well-known old remark of Cato, who used to wonder how two soothsayers could look one another in the face without laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-well-known-old-remark-of-cato-who-used-to-wonder-how-two/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/cato-used-to-assert-that-wise-men-profited-more-by-fools-than-fools/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Clove!" Cato's voice is much nearer now. I can tell by the pain in it that he sees her on the ground. 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The first was that he had trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/he-cato-used-to-say-that-in-all-his-life-he-never-repented-but-of/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Someone praising a man for his foolhardy bravery, Cato, the elder, said, ''There is a wide difference between true courage and a mere contempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/someone-praising-a-man-for-his-foolhardy-bravery-cato-the-elder-said/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is said that the propriety even of old Cato often yielded to the exciting influence of the grape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/it-is-said-that-the-propriety-even-of-old-cato-often-yielded-to-the/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers, And heavily in clouds brings on the day, The great, the important day, big with the fate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-dawn-is-overcast-the-morning-lowers-and-heavily-in-clouds-brings/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## More by Seneca the Younger > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The road by precepts is tedious, by example, short and efficacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-road-by-precepts-is-tedious-by-example-short-and-efficacious/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He who does not want to die should not want to live. 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The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More Abusive quotes > [“God, I was a mess when it came to Derrek. One part relief that I wasn’t still with him. One part embarrassment that I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-higginson/god-i-was-a-mess-when-it-came-to-derrek-one-part-relief-that-i-wasn-t/) [Rachel Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-higginson/) > [What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? 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Those are just a few examples of bridges that should rightly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-abusive-relationship-a-cheating-ex-partner-family-who-constantly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a temper, but I wouldn't call me abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/i-have-a-temper-but-i-wouldn-t-call-me-abusive/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [I wouldn't mind being in an abusive relationship with you babes only if you would punch me with her tits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-wouldn-t-mind-being-in-an-abusive-relationship-with-you-babes-only/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“The woman knows from living with the abusive man that there are no simple answers. 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