Precept and Practice – SEPTEMBER 1 – Talkativeness

When the Apostle speaks of a man not bridling his tongue, he refers to talkativeness;  a disposition to be talking, abstracted from the consideration of what is said;  with very little or no regard to, or thought of doing, either good or harm.   And let not any imagine this to be a slight matter, and that it deserves not so great weight laid on it, till he has considered what evil is implied in it, and the bad effects which follow it.   This unrestrained volubility is the occasion of numberless evils and vexations in life.   The tongue used in such a licentious manner is like a sword in the hand of a madman;  employed at random, it can scarce do any good, and for the most part does a world of mischief. 

(Bishop Butler)

And yet these great talkers do not at all speak from their having anything to say, as every sentence shows, but only from their inclination to be talking.   One would think it should be obvious to any one, that when in company with superiors in age, knowledge, or experience, when useful subjects are discoursed of which they cannot bear a part in, these are times for silence.

(Bishop Butler)

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From the Introduction to Precept and Practice

The kindly welcome given to my other little books, ‘Being and Doing’ and ‘Character and Conduct,’ must be my excuse for adding another collection of extracts to the number now in circulation.

The quotations are gathered from the books of many earnest thinkers, and deal with Life in all its length and breadth, with ourselves, our characters, our plain unvarnished faults and weaknesses, our often untoward circumstances, and with all that drags us down;-  with our purposes, our religion, our love and friendships, and with all that uplifts us;-  with our relation to others, our influence and responsibilities, and finally with those stages of our journey which bring us to the Road’s Last Turn and to the Silent Land.

CONSTANCE  M. WHISHAW