Accusations
January 13, 2025•443 words
"Guard yourself against accusations, even if they are false; for the multitude are ignorant of the truth and look only to reputation." ~ Isocrates
"As fire when thrown into water is cooled down and put out, so also a false accusation when brought against a man of the purest and holiest character, boils over and is at once dissipated, and vanishes." ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero
"There are a great many of these accusers, and they have been accusing me now for a great many years, and what is more, they approached you at the most impressionable age, when some of you were children or adolescents; and literally won their case by default, because there was no one to defend me." ~ Socrates
"I doubt not then but innocence shall makeFalse accusation blush, and tyrannyTremble at patience." ~ William Shakespeare
"We ought to be very cautious in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty, and may be the origin of a number of petty acts of tyranny if the legislator be not on his guard; for as such an accusation does not bear directly on the overt acts of a citizen, but refers to the idea we entertain of his character." ~ Baron de Montesquieu
Politicians have thick skin; they are always at the mercy of never ending accusations.
In the world of power, "an accusation is a potent weapon," it can damage your reputation and your power.
Beware of the finger-pointers-they are often cloaking their intentions. The loudest accusers are often those with the weakest case, trying to distract attention from their own vulnerability. The court of public opinion is fickle and can easily be swayed by appearances. Protect yourself from accusations, even false ones, as the common people are ignorant and always take a good reputation over the truth.
Do not give in to fear when faced with accusations.
Hysteria can easily overcome evidence, and when emotions are running high, an accusation alone may suffice to destroy a person's life. Stand firm on the cornerstones of due process and the presumption of innocence. Dissent is not disloyalty, and the notion of certainty rests as it should, on evidence and rule of law. When faced with unproven allegations, see them for what they are - arbitrary attempts to control your reactions through fear. Refuse to be dragged into an age of unreason where unfounded accusations are the order of the day that define what happens.