On Not Returning Evil for Evil

Ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἄλλος ἀδελφὸς, λέγων· Τί ἐστι, Μή ἀποδώσεις κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ; Λέγει αὐτῷ γέρων· Τὸ πάθος τοῦτο τέσσαρας ἔχει τρόπους· πρῶτον ἀπὸ καρδίας, δεύτερον ἀπὸ ὄψεως, τρίτον γλώσσης, τέταρτόν έστι, τὸ μὴ ποιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ. Ἐὰν δύνασαι καθαρίσαι τὴν καρδίαν σου, οὐκ ἔρχεται εἰς τὴν ὄψιν· ἐὰν δὲ ἔλθῃ εἰς τὴν ὄψιν, φυλάττου τὸ μὴ λαλεῖν· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ λαλήσῃς, ταχὺ κόψον τοῦ μὴ μοιῆσαι κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ. Αποφθεγματα των ἀγιων γεροντων, Παλλαδιος Source: Migne PG 65.332a-b

Another brother questioned Father Poimen, saying, 'What is it not to return evil for evil?' 1 The elder said, 'This passion has four stages, first from the heart, second from appearance, third from the tongue, fourth from the act of not returning evil for evil. If you can keep your heart pure it will not come to appearance, if it comes to appearance, guard against speaking, if you speak, quickly stop yourself less you return evil for evil.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia 1 1 Thess. 5.15