Not responding to provocation is a common advice given to people in many situations, and it refers to the idea of avoiding reacting emotionally to someone else’s attempt to anger or upset us.
Provocation can take many forms, including insults, criticism, taunts, or intentionally rude behavior, and it is often aimed at getting a reaction out of the person being provoked. However, responding in an emotional or aggressive manner can often escalate the situation and make it worse.
By not responding to provocation, we can prevent the situation from escalating and maintain our emotional balance. This can also prevent us from saying or doing things we might regret later. Instead, we can choose to respond calmly and assertively, or simply ignore the provocation altogether and move on.