May 25

A person’s morality is revealed by his attitude to the word.

1

If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

— James 1:26

2

The reason we pay attention to other people’s faults is because we neglect our own. As we condemn our neighbor, we often make the very same mistake we have just criticized. Those who are not concerned with saving their soul and are not striving to improve themselves easily fall prey to temptation and follow bad examples.

— From “Devout Thoughts”

3

If you have learned of your neighbor’s weaknesses, tell no one.

4

Never retell words that are hurtful and insulting, tell neither your friend nor your enemy of your neighbors’ shortcomings and do not reveal what bad things you know about their behavior. Whenever you hear someone condemn your neighbor, try to suppress it.

— From “Devout Thoughts”

5

Nothing is more obviously harmful to person of quick wit than for him to make a witty criticism and joke at the expense of a neighbor.

A witty judgement is a corpse under a sauce. Without the sauce, one would turn away, but with the sauce one will swallow it without noticing.

6

Never listen to those who speak badly of others and well of you.

It is only when you feel yourself calm, kind and loving that you do not have to think ahead about what you are going to say. But the more anxious, ill-disposed and irritated you are, the more you must take care to not sin with a word.