Answer questions calmly, & correctly. Marcus Aurelius 6.26

Being emperor means giving commands (imperare) but also taking petitions that require some answer (respondere). Marcus Aurelius reminds himself to approach the second office with patience, keeping his eye on the task rather than the petitioners (or their emotional state).

Ἐάν τίς σοι προβάλῃ πῶς γράφεται τὸ Ἀντωνίνου ὄνομα, μήτι κατεντεινόμενος προοίσῃ ἕκαστον τῶν στοιχείων; τί οὖν ἐὰν ὀργίζωνται, μήτι ἀντοργιῇ; μήτι οὐκ ἐξαριθμήσῃ πρᾴως προϊὼν ἕκαστον τῶν γραμμάτων; οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἐνθάδε μέμνησο ὅτι πᾶν καθῆκον ἐξ ἀριθμῶν τινῶν συμπληροῦται. τούτους δεῖ τηροῦντα καὶ μὴ θορυβούμενον μηδὲ τοῖς δυσχεραίνουσιν ἀντιδυσχεραίνοντα περαίνειν ὁδῷ τὸ προκείμενον.

If someone asks how the name Antoninus is written, won't you carefully show him each one of its letters? Why should anyone be upset about this, unless you are angry about it? Shall you not count the score of the letters meekly, taking each calmly in its turn? Remember that every proper office is fulfilled by such kind and careful counting. The officer who knows his watch must deal calmly with whatever he meets on the way, refusing to be disturbed or annoyed by those who pester him.