Treatise — Marc, Institutiones Morales
Tractate VIII: On the Eighth Precept of the Decalogue
¶1.
Thou shalt not speak false testimony against thy neighbor.
¶2.
(Exod., 20, 16).
¶1175.
- The EIGHTH precept prohibits generally that we harm our neighbor by words; and since the harm which is inflicted by words injures him in the goods of reputation and honor, this precept explicitly prohibits that we ever speak false testimony against him; but it implicitly commands that, "simulation and deceits having been removed, we measure our words and deeds by simple truth" (Catech. Rom., P. III, c. 9, n. 2). Therefore the aforesaid precept is concerned with the offices which we have toward our neighbor, both as regards truth and as regards reputation and honor. Wherefore, in a threefold chapter, we shall treat: 1. of the injury of truth; 2. of the injury of reputation; 3. of the injury of honor.