I would like to share a rarefied piece of wisdom I have gleaned from a text that enjoys a lot of trust with very little justification.
Matthew 18:21-22
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Seems that if you are willing to tolerate behavior, you must be willing to tolerate it indefinitely.
Tolerance is based on agreement with an underlying principle while finding the act itself distasteful or in some way repugnant. A good example would be freedom of speech. While it is common in Australia to respect freedom of speech to a point, there are certain things that a person can say that are highly upsetting or offensive. It stands as a test of fine sensitivity for the strength of a person's conviction to see them quietly listen to someone state a contrary view before rebutting.
Truth rears its ugly little head here, though we concede "de gustibus non est disputandum" (matters of taste are not disputable), truth is the strange and delightful constant that plagues the rational mind. While all opinions are valid until one opens their mouth, truth is valid before it is discussed and after it is dismissed. Truth is rarely conveyed in language; verily few human endeavors are motivated by or contain much of the essential substance. Though rare and hence valuable, truth is a constant if one looks hard enough. All things contain an element of truth if one seeks it.
And now an interlude:
Seek treasure in deep places where still water pools
In lakes and ponds whose fascia reflect the sky
Transparent open bodies are oft spurned by fools
In diaphanous waters the absent glint of gold may lie
Better to rake through uncertain muck without a care
Better to look where absent treasure is not seen
Better to hide your folly, fore I have had my share
Better anything but to see such a truth so clean
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