Never find fault with the absent.

The poet and moralist Alexander Pope, master of wit and wisdom, once spoke a commandment of profound simplicity: “Never find fault with the absent.” These words are a shield against the poison of slander and a call to honor in speech. To find fault with the absent is to strike at those who cannot defend themselves, to wield words as daggers in the shadows. Pope reminds us that true integrity is shown not by how we treat others when they are present, but by the respect we give them when they are away and powerless to answer.

When we speak ill of the absent, we reveal more about ourselves than about those we criticize. Such actions sow distrust, dividing communities and destroying bonds of friendship. The one who listens to gossip today will be the target of gossip tomorrow. Pope’s teaching is not merely about kindness, but about wisdom: to keep one’s tongue from treachery is to keep one’s soul clean and one’s relationships unbroken. Silence, in this case, is not weakness but strength, guarding both the speaker and the absent from unnecessary harm.

History gives us a lesson in the courts of kings. In the palace of Julius Caesar, whispers of betrayal often decided the fate of generals and senators. Many who were absent fell victim to the venom of rivals who found fault in secret. Such whispers led to the infamous Ides of March, when Caesar himself was struck down by those who had spoken of loyalty to his face but condemned him in private. This moment stands as a grim warning of how destructive words spoken in absence can be, for they ignite actions that even empires cannot contain.

In contrast, consider the life of George Washington. During the founding of the United States, political rivalries were fierce, and leaders often disagreed. Yet Washington, though often the target of criticism, refused to answer his opponents with gossip or slander. He upheld Pope’s wisdom by never speaking ill of those not present, even when they maligned him. His restraint elevated his character and strengthened the young nation, proving that noble silence can be more powerful than a thousand sharp words.

Let this teaching be carried through the ages: guard your tongue as you would a sacred treasure. Words have the power to heal or to destroy, to bind or to break. When tempted to find fault with the absent, remember that your speech reflects your own honor. By choosing silence or compassion, you become a builder of trust rather than a sower of discord. As Pope teaches, the noblest warrior is not the one who wins battles with swords, but the one who masters the battlefield of the tongue.