Miller on “crises”

I was constantly urged not to be too lenient, not to be too sentimental, not to be too charitable. Be firm! Be hard! they cautioned me. F——— that! I said to myself, I'll be generous, pliant, forgiving, tolerant, tender. In the beginning I heard every man to the end; if I couldn't give him a job I gave him money, and if I had no money I gave him cigarettes or I gave him courage. But I gave! ... I had the secret in my hand: it was to be generous, to be kind, to be patient.

Henry Miller. Tropic of Capricorn