Before all, and above all, attention shall be paid to the care of the sick, so that they shall be served as if they were Christ Himself.

The prophet shows that, for the sake of silence, we are to abstain even from good talk. If this be so, how much more needful is it that we refrain from evil words, on account of the penalty of the sin!

Then are they truly monks when they live by the labor of their hands.

He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.

Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.

He who has ears for hearing, let him listen

Be careful to be gentle, lest in removing the rust, you break the whole instrument.