The evil is with the one who erred. A two-beat maxim. First beat: TERM"if he has erred" (ἥμαρτεν), then the TERMevil (κακόν) is "there" (ἐκεῖ), with him: the fault spoils the doer's own ruling part, not the victim (cf. 9.4; DOGMAthe virtuous cannot be harmed). So there is nothing to be angry at or avenge — he has already borne the one real damage.

The reservation of doubt. Second beat — "but perhaps he did no wrong" (τάχα δ’ οὐχ ἥμαρτεν): before condemning, allow that there may have been no wrong at all — you know neither his intent nor all the circumstances. A double guard against anger: even if he erred, the harm is his; and perhaps he did not err at all. The governing discipline is assent.