If other people misbehave and you misbehave in response, then that bad karma becomes yours

"There’s a passage in the Canon where one of the asuras basically says, “If people see that you’re not fighting back when they mistreat you, then they’ll think that you’re weak and they’ll mistreat you even more.” And Sakka, the king of the devas replies, “No. How they see you is not the issue. The issue is your own behavior, because that becomes your karma. If other people misbehave and you misbehave in response, then that misbehavior becomes yours. If they think you’re weak, then they know nothing of the Dhamma” — because you have to remember that qualities like goodwill, patience, equanimity, and kindness are forms of strength."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Helping Yourself by Helping Others"

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