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Shorter Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 23: How Far Does the Judgment Upon Idle Words Extend? (R. 40)

Generally speaking, every word that does not help to satisfy the need set before us in the Lord is idle. And so great is the danger of such a word that, even if what is said is good in itself but does not contribute to the edifying of faith, he who has spoken it is not freed from danger by the goodness of the word, but since what is spoken does not contribute to edifying he grieves the Holy Spirit of God. For this the apostle taught clearly when he said: “Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth but such as is good for edifying of faith, that it may give grace to them that hear.”¹ And he adds: And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed.” And how great an evil it is to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, what need is there to say?

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