The first degree of humility is prompt obedience.

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

There is nothing better to display the truth in an excellent light, than a clear and simple statement of facts.

Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.

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.

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!

He who has ears for hearing, let him listen