It often happens that those are the best people whose characters have been most injured by slanderers: as we usually find that to be the sweetest fruit which the birds have been picking at.
For enemies carry about slander not in the form in which it took its rise . The scandal of men is everlasting; even then does it survive when you would suppose it to be dead.
A lot of nasty and untrue things have been said about me.
A slander is like a hornet; if you cannot kill it dead at the first blow, better not to strike at it.
CALUMNUS, n. A graduate of the School for Scandal.
Infamous Greek calumnies
See Constantine I {598591}
So fruitful is slander in variety of expedients to satiate as well as disguise itself. But if these smoother weapons cut so sore, what shall we say of open and unblushing scandal, subjected to no caution, tied down to no restraints?
Into the space of one little hour sins enough may be conjured up by evil tongues to blast the fame of a whole life of virtue.
The tongue of slander is too prompt with wanton malice to wound the stranger.
