He should first show them in deeds rather than words all that is good and holy.

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!

Idleness is an enemy of the soul.

To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself; but to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it on one's self.

Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.

Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.

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.