Quote from Letter 7,14 to Constantius, bishop of Milan. November 596
I have said this, then, to show you that it is a sign of excessive levity, if someone is keen to believe that serious evils have been committed which cannot be proved. Thus, your Sanctity ought to seperate your mind from the rumors and disparagement of slanderous men, and think about those things alone that concern your inner life, and help to benefit your subjects.
For it was for this also, perhaps, that the ancient enemy wanted you to be involved in such a concern, so that, while your Fraternity's mind is occupied incessantly with its own concerns, you might think less about the cares of others, and provide no word of consolation to your subjects, and contradict those acting perversly without any strict punishment
For thus in physical warfare, it usually happens that the enemy makes their strongest assault on the man carrying a flag into battle, so that, if he who is obeyed by the others should reveive a wound, the whole mass of men would scatter quickly and be captured. And so your Fraternity ought not to feel this wound of gossip inflicted on you, but you should take care of the life and betterment of thse entrusted to you, so that when the Judge appears, you can give a good account of your own innocence and of the betterment of your subjects.
I have said this, then, to show you that it is a sign of excessive levity, if someone is keen to believe that serious evils have been committed which cannot be proved. Thus, your Sanctity ought to seperate your mind from the rumors and disparagement of slanderous men, and think about those things alone that concern your inner life, and help to benefit your subjects.
For it was for this also, perhaps, that the ancient enemy wanted you to be involved in such a concern, so that, while your Fraternity's mind is occupied incessantly with its own concerns, you might think less about the cares of others, and provide no word of consolation to your subjects, and contradict those acting perversly without any strict punishment
For thus in physical warfare, it usually happens that the enemy makes their strongest assault on the man carrying a flag into battle, so that, if he who is obeyed by the others should reveive a wound, the whole mass of men would scatter quickly and be captured. And so your Fraternity ought not to feel this wound of gossip inflicted on you, but you should take care of the life and betterment of thse entrusted to you, so that when the Judge appears, you can give a good account of your own innocence and of the betterment of your subjects.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 466
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