I was reading this post when i came across the part about the "open secret" about how no one can insult u if you don't let them. Then something i read sometime ago just came back to me. I am quoting this from a book titled "The incredible phenomenon of karma". And i feel its pretty right. Not meant to be preachy though. But religious material or not, it still does apply no? So here goes

One day, a non-Bhuddist insulted Buddha. Buddha kept in silence without talking back. Later a disciple asked Buddha, "Someone just criticized you a few minutes ago. Why didn't you talk back to him ?"
Buddha asked the disciple, "If someone gives you a gift but you don't want to accept it, what will you do with the gift?"
The disciple answered, "The sender should bring the gift back"
Buddha said, "That's right. If someone blames you but you keep silent without talking back, then those bad words will be brought back by this person. Therefore, silence sometimes is the best solution"

Perhaps some might feel as if silence means admiting defeat. I was contempelating that too, But then the winner is not the one that wins the physical battle, but the one that overcomes the psychological battle.