We admire the strength it takes to do the right thing. Innocent points at the quieter strength we overlook: the strength not to act. Situations arise that summon your dark side, and holding still against it takes wisdom too.

Hence the uneven arithmetic: “It takes more to abstain than to err, more to avoid mistakes than to make mistakes; but the good thing is that it gets better with practice.” Erring is easy — it’s the default. Restraint is the harder, costlier move.

The hopeful part is the last clause. Habits, good and bad, are built by repetition; practice keeping a calm mind when trouble comes, and the practice hardens into a trait. Self-control isn’t a gift some people have — it’s a muscle anyone can train.