Be convinced that if a man is interiorly fighting and is troubled by some impassioned thought and publishes it abroad, he gives it more strength against himself, giving it power to fight against him and trouble him more. But if he faces it squarely and contests it and stirs up contrary thoughts, as I often tell you, he weakens that passionate thought and it becomes unable to fight against him and trouble him. And fighting in this way, little by little, and with the help of God, he overcomes the passion itself.
—Dorotheos of Gaza, Discourses and Sayings
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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?”
–Fr. Antony Paul -
“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 -
Look at the holy ones; most of them decreased their speech as they got older and grew and became wiser.
—Fr. Antony Paul -
We have to learn to discern two kinds of silence. Godʼs silence and our own inner silence. An encounter does not become deep and full until the two parties to it are capable of being silent with one another…When our silence is deep enough, we can begin to speak from its depths, but carefully and cautiously so as not to break it by the noisy disorder of our words. Then our thought is contemplative.
—Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, Courage to Pray
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107. By virtue of his body man is mortal; and by virtue of his intellect and intelligence he is immortal. Through silence you come to understanding; having understood, you give expression. It is in silence that the intellect gives birth to the intelligence; and the thankful intelligence offered to God is man’s salvation.
—Anthony the Great: On the Character of Men and on the Virtuous Life: One Hundred and Seventy Texts
Philokalia -
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 -
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
