The philosopher Socrates not only taught this gentleness, but practiced it carefully at home and abroad. He had plenty of opportunity to make use of it; for he had such a cross wife, that her name, Xanthippe, is still used to describe a scolding and badtempered woman.
Whenever Xanthippe was angry, she used to scold poor Socrates roundly. He always listened without flying into a passion, or even answering her; and when her temper was too unbearable, he quietly left the house, and went about his business elsewhere.
This gentleness and meekness only angered Xanthippe the more; and one day, when he was escaping as usual, she caught up a jug full of water and poured it over his head.
Socrates good-naturedly shook off the water, smiled, and merely remarked to his companions, “After the thunder comes the rain.”
From: H. A. Guerber, The Story of the Greeks; edited for this online publication, by ELLOPOS BLOG
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