Section 27

“The Lord, being God, silenced the mouths of the demons. We therefore ought to learn from the saints, act as they did, and imitate their courage. When the saints saw such things they would say: ‘When the sinner rose against me, I became deaf and humbled myself, and kept silence even from good words.’ And again: ‘I was like a deaf man who did not hear, and like a mute who did not open his mouth. I became like a man who does not hear.’

“So let us refuse to listen to the demons as to strangers who have nothing to do with us. Let us not obey them even if they rouse us to prayer or speak to us about fasting. Instead, let us attend more carefully to our own settled purpose in ascetic discipline and not be deceived by those who do everything with deceit.

“We should not fear them even if they threaten death. They are weak and can do nothing except threaten.