On Idle Talk and Much Speaking
You have spoken a word, and it will never die, but will live until the Dread Judgement. It will stand with you at the Dread Judgement and will be either for you or against you.
In paradise there are many sinners who repented of their sins, but not one chatterbox. Of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Do not allow yourself to speak about or meddle in matters that do not concern you. Abba Agathon of Egypt
When one talks a great deal 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 “because of this talk we have moved away from the Lord”.
Break the habit of arguing: it troubles the heart and takes away spiritual peace; set the Jesus Prayer against every idle 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.
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 this must be avoided without fail. Mother Tamar (Marjanishvili)
Do you rule over your stomach? Subdue your tongue too, so that freedom from the first may not be useless while you remain a slave to the second.
My son! Do not multiply words: much speaking drives the Spirit of God away from you.
When you are in the company of the brethren, keep a peaceful state. If for some reason you need to address them, say it briefly and with humility.
The Lord always guards your soul so long as you guard your tongue.
Never swear an oath, either about what is doubtful or about what is beyond doubt.
My son! It is a very great gain to learn silence. Silence is the imitation of the Lord, who “answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled” (Mark 15:5). Let your mind guide your tongue: words spoken without thought are thorns and briars.
Say nothing to one who pays no heed to your words.
Never speak of a good deed you mean to do — carry it out without announcing it beforehand.
A word that brings no benefit to those who hear it is harmful.
A word is the outward form of a thought, and 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.
He is wise who pleases God and is mostly silent, or, if he speaks, speaks little, and only what is necessary and pleasing to God.
Between spiritual growth and much speaking there is an inverse proportion. Father Alexander Elchaninov.
The Holy Spirit (in a Christian) is quenched by nothing so much as by idle talk.
Much speaking drives out grace and puts out the warmth of the spirit.
You must consider to whom you are speaking. When you know that the hearer benefits, then talk with him; otherwise do not speak.
Much speaking is the throne on which vainglory loves to appear and to show itself off in triumph. Much speaking is a sign of foolishness, the door of slander, a guide to unseemly laughter, a servant of falsehood, the uprooter of warmth of heart, the summoner of despondency, the forerunner of sleep, the squanderer of attention, the destroyer of heartfelt warmth, the cooling of holy fervour, the dimming of prayer.
One who has come to know his own sins has power over his tongue as well; but one who talks much has not yet come to know himself as he should.
Few can hold back water without a dam; and fewer still are those who can silence unbridled lips.
Rule over your tongue and do not multiply words.
The Lord takes care of your soul so long as you take care of your tongue.
How shall we guard the heart if our tongue is like an open door?
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”. That is why, before telling our neighbour anything, we should consider whether the story will enrich him spiritually and whether he really needs to know it for some serious reason.
