On Condemning Oneself

Prov. 18:17 LXX A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.

Metropolitan Anthony Khrapovitsky 1863-1936

Once, someone was talking to St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and could not find any words with which to oppose his arguments about the faith, so he struck the saint in the face. Then St. Tikhon himself fell at his feet and asked forgiveness for not warning him against such a sin as striking one of God’s bishops in the face. Readiness to condemn oneself and not others is a great virtue, which not only exalts people in the eyes of God, but also attracts the hearts of men. (Confession Chap. 9: Self-Justification)