Category: GOSSIP & SLANDER

  • WHEN SOMEONE INJURES US IN WHATEVER WAY, WHETHER WITH SLANDERS OR WITH INSULTS, WE SHOULD THINK OF HIM AS OUR BROTHER WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN HOLD OF BY THE ENEMY. WE HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THE ENEMY. ACCORDINGLY WE NEED TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR HIM AND ENTREAT GOD TO HAVE MERCY BOTH ON US AND ON HIM, AND GOD WILL HELP BOTH, IF, HOWEVER, WE ARE FILLED WITH ANGER AGAINST HIM, THEN THE ENEMY WILL JUMP FROM HIM TO US AND MAKE A MOCKERY OF US BOTH A PERSON WHO CONDEMNS OTHERS DOES NOT LOVE CHRIST. OUR EGOTISM IS AT FAULT.

    Elder Porphyrios
    Wounded by Love

  • Light or darkness will never be hidden. Whatever is within us, will be known. As much as we try to hide, it will be known.

    —Fr. Daniel Fanous

  • “If you want it to be private, don’t let it leave your lips.”

    —Fr. Tadros Malaty

  • “The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away; as it seemed good unto the Lord even so has it come to pass, blessed be the name of the Lord forever.” Let this speech be our utterance also over each event which befalls us, whether it be loss of property, or infirmity of body, or insult, or false accusation, or any other form of evil that happens to mankind, let us say these words:

    “The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away; as it seemed good to the Lord so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord forever.”

    If we practice this spiritual wisdom, we shall never experience any evil, even if we undergo countless sufferings, but the gain will be greater than the loss, the good will exceed the evil.

    By these words you will cause God to be merciful to you, and will defend yourself against the tyranny of Satan. For as soon as your tongue has uttered these words, immediately the devil flees from you. And when he has hastened away, the cloud of dejection also is dispelled and the thoughts which afflict us take to flight, hurrying off in company with him. And in addition to all this you will win all manner of blessings both here and in Heaven. And you have a convincing example in the case of Job and of the apostle, who having for God’s sake despised the troubles of this world, obtained the everlasting blessings. Let us then be trustful and in all things which befall us let us rejoice and give thanks to the merciful God, that we may pass through this present life with serenity and obtain the blessings to come, by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ to Whom be glory, honor and might always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

    Saint John Chrysostom
    On the Two Paralytics in the Gospels
    Homilies on Profitable Subjects

  • “Once when I was talking to some brothers for the good of their soul they became so drowsy that they could not even keep their eyelids open. I wanted to show them that this was the devil’s work, so I started gossiping: and at once they sat up and began to enjoy what I was saying.”

    —Saint John Cassian

  • “One who loves his neighbour can never tolerate slanderers, but rather runs from them as from fire.”

    —St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent

  • There are many disciples of Christ who can justly claim that they are indifferent to material possessions. They happily live in simple huts, wear rough woolen clothes, eat frugally, and give away the bulk of their fortunes. These same people can justly claim that they are indifferent to worldly power. They happily work in the most humble capacities, performing menial tasks, with no desire for high rank. But there may still be one earthly attribute to which they cling: reputation. They may wish to be regarded by others as virtuous. They may want to be admired for their charity, their honesty, their integrity, their self-denial. They may not actually draw people’s attention to these qualities, but they are pleased to know that others respect them. Thus when someone falsely accuses them of some wrongdoing, they react with furious indignation. They protect their reputation with the same ferocity as the rich people protect their gold. Giving up material possessions and worldly power is easy compered with giving up reputation. To be falsely accused and yet to remain spiritually serene is the ultimate test of faith.

    On Living Simply
    St. John Chrysostom

  • “What is private always shows itself publicly.”

    — Benjamin P. Hardy

  • If a man has reported to you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make any defense to what has been told you, but reply, “The man did not know the rest of my faults, for he would not have mentioned these only.”

    —Epictetus, Enchiridion

  • “Very few people can resist saying malicious things about their acquaintances, and even on occasion about their friends; yet when people hear that anything has been said against themselves, they are filled with indignant amazement.”

    —Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness