Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I never saw him (peace and blessings be upon him) strike a servant, nor anyone else, except in jihad in the path of Allah; nor did he (peace and blessings be upon him) take revenge for himself on anyone, except for the sake of Allah: when it was for Allah, he would take revenge. When there were two matters, he would choose the easier, provided it was not a sin; when it was a sin, he would be the farthest from it.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الشهادات / 20788