33. Those who are inconstant and uninstructed should not argue with intelligent men. An intelligent man is one who conforms to God and mostly keeps silent; when he speaks he says very little, and only what is necessary and acceptable to God.
—Anthony the Great: On the Character of Men and on the Virtuous Life: One Hundred and Seventy Texts
Philokalia
Category: SILENCE
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2. 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 -
When someone hurts you, do not answer back, but meet the hurt with silence.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, A Whisper of Love: Poems, Prayers and Sayings -
“We may lose our peace due to our being upset at other people’s errors, even if these errors are not directed at us! For we want people to behave how we want them to otherwise we get upset. What is preferable for them and us for the sake of keeping our peace and theirs, is that we do not interfere in other people’s affairs, else we would be setting ourselves as critics over their actions”
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Think of the person who cannot stop oversharing. They speak with such rapidity, often regretting the contents after they have spewed them, telling themselves they will stop revealing so much, but they cannot stop.
The chronic oversharer, this goof, this blabber, this minister of yap, places a feigned virtue on their lack of discipline and self-control. “Being authentic”—of course, a self-appeasing lie. They do not know themselves, and it is obvious to anybody who has done the appropriate self-appraisal. Their character is performative. The cheapest of masks, there is very little substance.
At their lowest, the mask tightens. They speak with desperate ventriloquism, every thought expressed so loosely and ridiculously; tracing the source of sense in their words is impossible. A nonsensical flight of scattered thoughts. Every utterance saturates the air with their mental disaster.
What discombobulation they spread. What gibberish. They do not know themselves in the slightest, and because of the war faced in their mind, anyone in their vicinity becomes a civilian casualty.
CRANIOTOMY: Dissection of your Human Condition
BONESAW -
As far as possible, be discreet in your conversations and do not overly open up to others. One will say it to another and another to yet another, and then what will come of that?
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How does one acquire humility? By silence. Be silent! Be stupid! Let everyone consider you to be stupid! Silence is the primary means for the attainment of humility and love. One is saved by silence.
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The meaning of this is that in addition to our commitment to the words of our mouths before others, we must also talk less as much as possible, so long as speaking will not edify or benefit, for “in the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” And well did Abba Arsenius, the tutor of the Emperor’s sons, say, “I often repented of having spoken, never of remaining silent.”
Let us be careful and always remember the divine judgment which said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”221 For this reason, the virtue of silence is considered one of the greatest virtues that leads to the unceasing prayer of the heart.
—H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Pray -
An intelligent man is one who conforms to God and mostly keeps silent; when he speaks he says very little, and only what is necessary and acceptable to God.
—St. Antony the Great
SO GOOD QUOTES 