There is a type of discretion in which a person can speak without causing the listener offense. This is not weakness. It is not beating around the bush. It is honest and directed in such a way that the listener can walk away with his feelings intact.
If a speaker is unable to do this, they will often cover their inability with the phrase, “I meant no offense.” It is not the best approach, but in this day and age, it is usually accepted.
And then there is a total lack of discretion. The speaker burns everything in his path without remorse or regard for the listener. This approach requires little thoughtfulness and even less tact.
Thinking before you speak and choosing your words carefully will eliminate many quarrels. You will be less likely to get angry and less likely to anger your audience.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Proverbs 19:11
And if you are the listener, consider the latter half of this proverb. It is your glory to not be offended. These days, this is not something we see often. It seems that many of us are offended by the slightest provocation. But as Epictetus once said, “Any person capable of angering you becomes your master. They can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by them.” The offense is only offensive if you allow it to be so.
Let us, therefore, put our egos aside. If we truly want the glory, we should take the high road and not let ourselves be offended.
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