The source of this is Proverbs, xv, 1: ‘A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.’ If anyone loses his temper and shouts at you, don’t shout back. By answering him quietly and politely, you are much more likely to persuade him that he is being unjust and should not have lost his temper with you. Another proverb teaches us: It takes to to make a quarrel.
