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Truly, slander hurts much more than the deeds themselves. There is much in danger that makes grief easier, for example, when everyone encourages, many approve, praise and glorify. But here, in slander, the very consolation is taken away. To endure slander is not considered a great feat, although in fact slander hurts the ascetic more than the dangers themselves. Many commit suicide, unable to bear the bad rumors about themselves. And why be surprised at others, when this very reason most of all prompted that shameless and vile traitor, who had completely lost shame in everything, to hang himself. And Job - this adamant, harder than the stone itself - when he lost his property, endured unbearable torment, suddenly lost all his children, when he saw his body filled with worms, his reproaching wife, he endured everything easily. When he saw his friends who reproached him, mocked him and, slandering him, said that he was suffering this for his sins and was being punished for his vices, then this courageous and great ascetic wavered and became confused (6). Let someone slander us, we should not grieve when we hear this slander, but when it is fair. If we live in wickedness, then at least no one slandered us, we are the most miserable of all; on the contrary, if we live virtuously, then at least the whole universe will say bad things about us - and then we will be the happiest of all and will attract to ourselves everyone who wants to be saved, because they will pay attention not to the slander of the wicked, but to a virtuous life. Truly, the voice of virtue is louder than any trumpet, and pure life is brighter than the sun itself, even if there are an innumerable multitude of those who slander. So, if we have all the virtues mentioned: if we are meek, humble, merciful, pure, peacemakers, we do not respond to insults with insults, but, on the contrary, even accept them with joy, then we will attract everyone who looks at us with this no less than with miracles, and everyone will willingly rush to us, even if someone was indomitable like a beast, even if someone was cunning like an evil spirit - in a word, like someone neither was thin. If those who slander also appear, do not worry about it; Do not be embarrassed that you are slandered in front of people, but examine the conscience of those slandering you - and you will see that they applaud you, are surprised and inwardly shower you with countless praises. So, pay attention with what praise Nebuchadnezzar spoke about those youths who were in the oven, despite the fact that he was their enemy and persecutor. Since he saw their courage, he praises and glorifies them, and precisely because they did not submit to him and remained faithful to the law of God (see Dan. 3). This is how the devil, when he sees that he has no time at all, finally leaves, fearing so as not to bring us greater glory with his machinations. And when he departs, and the darkness he unleashes dissipates, then everyone, no matter how depraved and wicked, will know virtue. If people do not understand you, then you will have praise and great glory from God. So, do not mourn and do not be faint-hearted. And the apostles were “to some a savor of death unto death, and to others a savor of life unto life” (2 Cor. 2:16). If you have not given any reason for slander, then you are free from any accusation; on the contrary, you have become even the happiest person. Let your life shine, and do not pay any attention to those who slander you; It is impossible, absolutely impossible, for the virtuous not to have many enemies. But a virtuous person will not tolerate anything from them; on the contrary, through this he will become even more famous. So, thinking about this, let's keep one thing in mind - to lead our lives virtuously. By leading our lives in this way, we will lead those sitting in darkness to heavenly life. Such is the power of this light that it not only shines here, but also illuminates the path for those going there (6). It is not those who are slandered who need to fear and tremble, but those who slander them, because those who are not slandered will have to justify themselves in the fact that bad rumors were spread about them, but those who slander them will give an answer in that they spoke ill of others. All the trouble will fall on them. So, those who suffer from evil rumors have nothing to worry about, because they will not be required to answer that others have spoken evil about them, but those who have spoken evil need to fear and tremble, because they will be brought to justice for their evil tongue. Truly, this is the devil’s network, this is a sin that does not bring any pleasure, but only harm. Truly, an evil pagan hoards an evil treasure in his soul. If the one who is possessed by bad mucus himself suffers the most from them and falls into illness, then all the more so will he who accumulates within himself anger, which is bitterer than any bile, suffer the most severe harm and cause himself a severe illness. If the words he spews cause so much grief to others, then they will cause even greater grief to the soul that gave birth to them. He who intends evil kills himself first, just as the one who fanns the fire often burns himself out, and the one who strikes a diamond causes harm to himself, and the one who steps on sharp nails inflicts a bloody wound on himself (6). Let us have a tongue that speaks good in order to gain love and favor. But evil has reached the point where many boast of things they should be ashamed of. Many utter this threat: you will not stand, they say, against my tongue. Such words are characteristic of a drunken and disorderly woman, an obscene old woman who is being persecuted in the marketplace. There is nothing more shameful than these words; There is nothing more unworthy of a husband, nothing more effeminate, than to place one’s strength in the tongue and boast of slander, like those who act at spectacles, like jesters, parasites and flatterers. Those who boast about this are more pigs than people. You should have hidden this from yourself, and if someone else had told you about it, you should have run from his words as hostile and unworthy of a husband; and you yourself become a herald of reproaches. But you will not harm in the least the one who hears evil from you. Therefore, I exhort you, realizing how great this evil is, which many even boast of, let us come to our senses, correct those who are devoted to this madness, drive out such societies from the city, improve our language and refrain it from all slander, so that, having been cleansed from sins, we can acquire favor from above and be counted worthy of God’s love for mankind (10). You might be interested in: