From the sayings of ABBA MACARIUS about Tolerating Insults

A young man asked St. Macarius for spiritual advice; he directed him to go to a burying place and reproach the dead and after that flatter them. When he returned, the saint asked him what answer the dead had made. “None at all,” said the other, “Neither reproaches nor praises.” Then replied St. Macarius, “Go and learn neither to be moved by abuse nor by flattery. If you die to the world and to yourself, you will begin to live to Christ.”