"A mule will labor ten years willingly and patiently for you, for the privilege of kicking you once"

This quote by William Faulkner is an amusing method of revealing the concept that people will typically bear with a great deal of mistreatment before they finally reach their breaking point. The mule in the quote is a metaphor for a person who is willing to tolerate a lot of abuse before they finally defend themselves. The quote is a suggestion that individuals can just take so much prior to they will no longer tolerate it. It is a warning to those in positions of power to be conscious of how they treat those below them, as they may be more patient than expected, however ultimately they will reach their limitation. The quote is likewise a pointer to those who are being maltreated to not hesitate to stand up for themselves and to not let anybody make the most of them.