Know! people’s slander undermines and blemishes humility. Due to the slander that people speak, due to this blemish, it is impossible for the tzaddikim to be humble. This is because the blemish of slander separates humility from wisdom, and as a result humility is blemished, so that it is impossible to be humble.
And even if someone is humble, it is without wisdom. This is known: humility without wisdom is nothing. For the virtue of humility certainly does not entail going about with a lowered head, in a foolish manner, as though one were a humble person. This is false humility.
The essence of humility is when it is with wisdom. But through the blemish of slander, a separation is made between humility and wisdom. Because of this, it is impossible to be <properly> humble.
{“Miriam and Aharon spoke against Moshe… Moshe, however, was a very humble man, more so than any other man on earth” (Numbers 12:1, 3) .} This was the virtue of Moshe Rabbeinu, of blessed memory. The Torah praised him that he so excelled in the virtue of humility, that even slander did not undermine his humility. This is as it is written, “[Miriam and Aharon] spoke against Moshe.” Thus we see that the blemish of slander existed in the world. Even so, “Moshe, however, was a very humble man.” He was on such an advanced level of humility that even the blemish of slander did not undermine his humility.
דַּע, שֶׁלָשׁוֹן הָרָע שֶׁל הָעוֹלָם מַזִּיק וּפוֹגֵם אֶת הָעֲנִיווּת, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי לָשׁוֹן הָרָע שֶׁהָעוֹלָם מְדַבְּרִים, עַל יְדֵי הַפְּגָם הַזֶּה, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַצַּדִּיקִים לִהְיוֹת עֲנָוִים. כִּי פְּגַם לָשׁוֹן הָרָע מַפְרִיד בֵּין עֲנָוָה לְחָכְמָה, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה נִפְגָּם הָעֲנָוָה, וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לִהְיוֹת עָנָו;
Know! people’s slander undermines and blemishes humility. Due to the slander that people speak, due to this blemish, it is impossible for the tzaddikim to be humble. This is because the blemish of slander separates humility from wisdom, and as a result humility is blemished, so that it is impossible to be humble.
וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יִהְיֶה עָנָו הוּא בְּלֹא חָכְמָה, וְזֶה יָדוּעַ שֶׁעֲנָוָה בְּלֹא חָכְמָה אֵינָהּ כְּלוּם, כִּי בְּוַדַּאי אֵין זֶה מַעֲלַת הָעֲנָוָה, לְהַרְאוֹת עַצְמוֹ בִּכְפִיפַת רֹאשׁ בְּדֶרֶךְ שְׁטוּת כְּאִלּוּ הוּא עָנָו, כִּי זֶה עֲנָוָה פְּסוּלָה,
And even if someone is humble, it is without wisdom. This is known: humility without wisdom is nothing. For the virtue of humility certainly does not entail going about with a lowered head, in a foolish manner, as though one were a humble person. This is false humility.
וְעִקַּר הָעֲנָוָה – כְּשֶׁהִיא בְּחָכְמָה, וְעַל יְדֵי פְּגַם לָשׁוֹן הָרָע נַעֲשֶׂה פֵּרוּד בֵּין עֲנָוָה לְחָכְמָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִהְיוֹת עָנָו.
The essence of humility is when it is with wisdom. But through the blemish of slander, a separation is made between humility and wisdom. Because of this, it is impossible to be <properly> humble.
וְזֶה הָיָה מַעֲלַת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁשִּׁבְּחָה הַתּוֹרָה אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה כָּל־כָּךְ גָּדוֹל בְּמַעֲלַת הָעֲנָוָה, עַד שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ לָשׁוֹן הָרָע לֹא הִזִּיק לְעַנְוְתָנוּתוֹ, וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב (במדבר יב): וַתְּדַבֵּר וְכוּ' בְּמשֶׁה וְכוּ'. נִמְצָא שֶׁהָיָה פְּגַם לָשׁוֹן הָרָע בָּעוֹלָם, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן – וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה עָנָו מְאֹד, כִּי הָיָה בְּמַעֲלָה גְּדוֹלָה כָּל כָּךְ בַּעֲנָוָה, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ פְּגַם לָשׁוֹן הָרָע לֹא הִזִּיק לוֹ לָעֲנָוָה שֶׁלּוֹ:
{“Miriam and Aharon spoke against Moshe… Moshe, however, was a very humble man, more so than any other man on earth” (Numbers 12:1, 3) .} This was the virtue of Moshe Rabbeinu, of blessed memory. The Torah praised him that he so excelled in the virtue of humility, that even slander did not undermine his humility. This is as it is written, “[Miriam and Aharon] spoke against Moshe.” Thus we see that the blemish of slander existed in the world. Even so, “Moshe, however, was a very humble man.” He was on such an advanced level of humility that even the blemish of slander did not undermine his humility.