Think of anybody that you know that almost never speaks and never gives their opinion. When that person speaks, usually everyone is listening because they’re like, “that person usually doesn’t talk.”
Suddenly it’s like whoa whoa whoa, they’re speaking. “What are you saying?”
When he is silent, it is by wisdom. And when he talks, it is for a benefit.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, The Spiritual Man
“The more a man’s tongue flees talkativeness, the more his intellect is illumined so as to be able to discern deep thoughts.”
—St. Isaac the Syrian
A wise person does not keep silent when he should speak and does not speak when he should keep silent.
….Wisdom is the deciding factor in the matter and through discernment you can determine which of the two ways is better. It is unreasonable to give one rule for all cases, we cannot say that you should keep silent when one word from you can solve a problem or when your silence can be misinterpreted for something other than what you intended.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Characteristics of the Spiritual Path
To cease talk on any subject:
There are some subjects which are not your concern, therefore do not speak about them, especially matters relating to the secrets of others. Also abstain from talking on subjects which are not your speciality, such as pure scientific or artistic or political matters that surpass your knowledge.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. 1
SO GOOD QUOTES 