• If a person has an opportunity to save someone from an attack against him, would he not do under pretext of gentleness?

    He could say: It is not my business. What have I to do with that? Leave me alone! Or rather he advances valiantly to save him, gently. In this way the Lord Christ saved the woman caught in the very act from being stoned. He said to those who wanted to stone her: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” He said this gently, without revealing their sins, but wrote them down on the ground.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • …If you keep silent, your silence will be wrong. Gentleness does not mean that you live like a still corpse in the society. You should have your own personality, but in a gentle way, even to express yourself with one word as the Baptist did, saying: “It is not lawful for you” (Mt 14: 4)

    St. Paul the Apostle said, “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (Acts 20: 31) His gentleness did not prevent him from warning everybody, but gently: with tears!

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Good-heartedness is the prevailing nature in the gentle person, but whenever the situation calls him to act gallantly or bravely, or to witness for the truth, he should not refrain under the pretext of gentleness.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle does not get angry for every cause.

    If he gets angry, it is for something serious, and often for God’s sake. His anger is not for his own sake, for his own dignity, nor for his own rights as others do.

    If he gets angry, he does not become furious or nervous. His anger is merely an expression of his objection and dissatisfaction. He is usually calm; does not easily get upset, nor flame with rage.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle person is always cheerful, and never frowns at anyone.

    His smile is sweet and loved by everyone, and his features are nice giving comfort to whoever looks at him. In his calmness he cannot rebuke or blame, nor can he act with excitedness or harshness, nor can he change the tone of his voice when rebuking someone.

    Even if mistreated, the gentle will not grumble, get bored, or complain.

    He often finds excuses for others, justifies their conduct, and thinks no evil. He never speaks about the offences against him, as if nothing has happened. He does not even feel sad within, and if he is provoked his anger will soon clear away and not turn into malice.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Good relations can easily be established with the gentle person. Anybody can be on good terms with him.

    He does not get excited nor offended in agreements. Whoever argues with him feels at ease, even though different in opinion with him, being sure he will not get angry or count faults for him.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle is usually bashful; he cannot look at anyone fully in the face.

    He does not examine one’s features to know his inner feelings or the truth of his words. If he is fought with this, he will say to himself: It is not my business. Let me mind my own business! He is by nature gentle, and is not inclined to examine others’ actions.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle does not set himself as an observer over others.

    He does not set himself as judge, nor interferes with the others. He does not give himself the power to observe them and to judge their actions. He never condemns anyone. If he is compelled to judge, his judgment will not be cruel.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle has no violence nor wrath in his temper.

    He is calm and is not agitated or stirred. He does not get angry at all, nor is he ever aroused or overcome by nervousness. His nerves are always calm, and his features are always good natured and cheerful. He avenges not himself, nor solves his problems with violence. If anyone offends him, he faces it with longsuffering and patience.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The gentle is a good-natured and peaceful person. He is always quiet.

    His character is calm, and also his nerves, his words, his countenance, and his movements are calm. Not only his outer appearance, but also his inner self is calm. His heart and his emotions are calm. He is calm in his dealings with the others.

    …

    The voice of the gentle is always gentle.

    His voice is never high nor sharp. His words are neither severe nor hard. The still and low voice is a characteristic of the gentle.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit