On idle talk, on much speaking

You have uttered a word, and it will never die, but will live until the Dread Judgment. It will stand with you at the Dread Judgment and will be for you and against you. St Theophan the Recluse

In paradise there are many sinners who repented of their sins, but not a single chatterer. Elder Zosima of the Trinity–St Sergius Lavra

Do not allow yourself to talk about or meddle in matters that do not concern you. Abba Agathon of Egypt

In much talking it is hard not to sin. Then sadness appears in the soul, which, in the words of the holy hierarch Theophan the Recluse, is a sign that “through this talk we have drawn away from the Lord.”

Break yourselves of the habit of arguing: by troubling the heart it robs us of peace of soul; set the Jesus Prayer against every senseless thought. S. A. Nilus

Speak, if you know something better than silence and have something to say; but love silence when it is better than speech. St Gregory the Theologian

Never enter into church disputes with people who hold a different opinion. For such a dispute will never bring you to a good result; it only embitters and irritates people. And that you must without fail avoid. Mother Tamar (Marjanishvili)

Are you master of your belly? Subdue your tongue as well, so that freedom from the first may not prove useless while you remain the slave of the second. St Nilus of Sinai

My son! Do not multiply words: much speaking drives the Spirit of God away from you. St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

When you are in the company of the brethren, keep yourself in a peaceful state. If for some reason you need to address them, say it briefly and with humility. St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

The Lord always guards your soul so long as you guard your tongue. St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Never swear an oath, either about what is doubtful or about what is beyond doubt. St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

My son! The greatest acquisition is to learn silence. Silence is an imitation of the Lord, Who “yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled” (Mark 15:5). Let your mind govern your tongue: words spoken without thought are thistles and thorns. St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Say nothing to one who pays no heed to your words. St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Never talk about the good deed you intend to do — carry it out without announcing it beforehand. St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

A word that brings no profit to those who hear it is harmful. St Barsanuphius the Great

The word is the outward being of the thought, and just as sin is sown in our soul by a bad thought, so by a bad word sin is sown in the soul of the one who listens to us.

Much speaking defiles a man. St Barsanuphius

He is wise who pleases God and is mostly silent, or, if he speaks, speaks little, and only what is needful and pleasing to God. St Antony the Great

Between spiritual growth and much speaking there is an inverse proportion. Father Alexander Elchaninov.

Nothing so quenches the Holy Spirit (in a Christian) as idle conversation. St Antony the Great

Much speaking drives away grace and destroys the fervour of the soul. Elder Parthenius of Kiev

You must consider whom you are speaking to. When you know that the listener is profiting, speak with him; otherwise, do not speak. The holy elders Barsanuphius the Great and John

Much speaking is the seat on which vainglory loves to show itself and parade in triumph. Much speaking is a sign of senselessness, a door to evil speaking, a guide to unseemly laughter, a servant of falsehood, the ruin of compunction of heart, a summoner of despondency, a forerunner of sleep, a squandering of attention, the ruin of the heart's watchfulness, the cooling of holy warmth, the darkening of prayer. St John of the Ladder

He who has come to know his own sins has power over his tongue as well; but the talkative man has not yet come to know himself as he ought. St John of the Ladder

Few can hold back water without a dam; and fewer still are those who can restrain an unbridled mouth. St John of the Ladder

Rule over your tongue and do not multiply words. St Antony the Great

The Lord guards your soul for as long as you guard your tongue. St Antony the Great

How shall we guard the heart if our tongue is like an open door? St Sisoes the Great

Between spiritual growth and much speaking there is an inverse proportion. It is easy and tempting to replace spiritual effort with chatter. This is the temptation of all “teaching.” Therefore, before we tell our neighbour anything, we should consider whether the story will enrich him spiritually and whether he truly needs to know it for some serious reason. Father Alexander Elchaninov