Silence

The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A
frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant
process of adjusting our public image. We fear so deeply
what we think other people see in us that we talk in order to
straighten out their understanding. If I have done some wrong
thing (or even some right thing that I think you may misunderstand)
and discover that you know about it, I will be tempted
to help you understand my action.
Silence is one of the deepest disciplines of the Spirit, because it
puts the stopper on all self-justification. One of the fruits of
silence is the freedom to let God be our justifier. We don’t need
to straighten others out.

The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process of adjusting our public image. We fear so deeply what we think other people see in us that we talk in order to straighten out their understanding. If I have done some wrong thing (or even some right thing that I think you may misunderstand) and discover that you know about it, I will be tempted to help you understand my action. Silence is one of the deepest disciplines of the Spirit, because it puts the stopper on all self-justification. One of the fruits of silence is the freedom to let God be our justifier. We don’t need to straighten others out.