“He that Uttereth Slander Is a Fool”
The serpent was once asked, “Pray, what profit hast thou in depriving other beings of their life? The lion kills what he eats; the wolf strangles and devours; other savage beasts destroy to satisfy their ravenous appetites. But thou alone strikest at the innocent victim, and infusest thy deadly venom, without any other gratification than the fiend-like pleasure of destroying.”
“And why do you ask me?” replied the serpent. “Rather ask the slanderer what pleasure he has in scattering his poison, and finally wounding those who never injured him. Besides, I kill only those who are near me; he destroys at a distance. He scatters deadly venom here and a hundred miles hence.”—Christian Weekly.