[There is] to [the law of] the defamer an [element of] leniency, as well as an [element of] stringency. How so? Whether he defamed [the daughter of] the most prominent [family] of Kohanim or [of] the humblest [family] in Israel, he gives one hundred selaim. It emerges that the one who speaks with his mouth is [treated] more [severely] than one who commits a deed. For so we find that the decree was sealed against our forefathers in the desert only because of evil speech; as it is stated: ‘And they tested Me these ten times and did not hearken to My voice’ (Numbers 14:22).