Gregory the Great, on Ezek 2:6

“And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their looks: for they are a provoking house.”

“Hence it is that Truth denies that John the Baptist was a reed shaken by the wind, saying: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind?" That he said this by way of denial, not affirmation, the following words testify. For he says: "But what did you go out into the desert to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings." Now a reed shaken by the wind is at one moment raised up by the blasts, at another moment bent down by the blasts. But every weak soul that is either cast down by disparagement or exalted by praises is a reed shaken by the wind. This John was not, because he maintained an unbending summit of mind amid both the praises and the disparagement of men.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.