Clement of Alexandria c. 150 to c. 215 · Alexandria Clement agrees:
“For we ought not to speak long or much, nor ought we to speak frivolously.”
The Instructor
What did the early Christians say about silence?
Nearly all agreed. Ambrose of Milan, John Cassian and 8 others would say yes to the statement below. Only Augustine of Hippo would say no.
- 11On record
- 10Would agree
- 1Would disagree
The statement in the quiz
“Most of the time, it's better to say less.”
The quiz puts it in today’s words. Each person below is placed by what they wrote or said. Where their line is clear on its own, it is printed with its source.
You said:
From your result on . See your result
10 early Christians
Would agree
Your side
Clement of Alexandria c. 150 to c. 215 · Alexandria 
Cyprian of Carthage c. 200 to 258 · Carthage Cyprian agrees.
On record in On the Advantage of Patience.
Antony the Great c. 251 to 356 · The Egyptian desert Antony agrees:
“Put no confidence in thine own righteousness, and regret not nor cogitate upon a matter which is past, and be persistent in restraining thy tongue and thy belly.”
Sayings of the Desert Fathers, as the desert monks remembered it
Ambrose of Milan c. 339 to 397 · Milan Ambrose strongly agrees:
“How many have I seen to fall into sin by speaking, but scarcely one by keeping silent; and so it is more difficult to know how to keep silent than how to speak.”
On the Duties of the Clergy
John Chrysostom c. 347 to 407 · Antioch and Constantinople Chrysostom agrees:
“Let there not be one idle word; for from idle words we fall also into foul words.”
Homilies on Ephesians
Jerome c. 347 to 420 · Rome and Bethlehem Jerome agrees:
“You love silence, meekness, privacy; he takes delight in talking and effrontery, in squares, and streets, and apothecaries' shops.”
Letter to Nepotian
John Cassian c. 360 to c. 435 · Egypt, then Marseilles Cassian strongly agrees.
On record in Conferences.
Boethius c. 477 to c. 524 · Rome and Pavia Boethius agrees.
On record in The Consolation of Philosophy.
Benedict of Nursia c. 480 to c. 547 · Subiaco and Monte Cassino Benedict strongly agrees:
“The ninth degree of humility is that a monk restrain his tongue from speaking; and, keeping silence, do not speak until he is spoken to.”
Rule of St Benedict
Isaac the Syrian 7th century · Nineveh and the mountains Isaac strongly agrees:
“Love silence above all things. It brings thee near the fruit which the tongue is too weak to interpret.”
Ascetical Homilies
1 early Christian
Would disagree
Your side
Augustine of Hippo 354 to 430 · North Africa Augustine disagrees:
“I began to be more grieved at having refrained from saying what I ought to have said, than I had before been grieved by having said what I ought not.”
Expositions on the Psalms
What they said
More questions
- Learning from outsiders “Wisdom is worth learning from anyone, even people who don't share your faith.”
- Anger “Anger at real wrongdoing can be a good thing.”
- Solitude “If you had to choose, you'd grow closer to God alone in quiet than among other people.”
- Being rich “There's nothing wrong with being rich, as long as you use it well.”
your turn
Quiz Which early Christian thinks like you? And which would argue with you? See where you would stand on this and 22 more. Start Suggest a correction. Corrections that are applied are recorded in the public changelog.