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Prot. Dionysius Dunaevsky. Unbridled evil: verbosity and talkativeness in the mirror of patristic asceticism and ancient wisdomtranslated

July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

📷 Ludvig14 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

We began our conversation about the sins of speech with foul language - with how a rotten word defiles the soul and alienates it from God. However, sins of speech are not limited to swearing alone. Continuing this conversation, let us turn to what the holy fathers call “unbridled evil” - to an ailment that is much more invisible and therefore, perhaps, more dangerous: verbosity and idle talk.

The teaching of the holy fathers about this spiritual illness is surprisingly consonant with the conclusions of the ancient moralist Plutarch, who, at the dawn of our era, dedicated a separate treatise “On Talkativeness” to the same illness. Two views - patristic and ancient - agree on the main thing: an unbridled tongue is not just a bad habit, but a deep corruption of human nature that requires healing.

Illness, not weakness

Plutarch begins his treatise with an unexpected confession: “The difficult and painful task of healing talkativeness is undertaken by philosophy.” For him, talkativeness is not a lack of upbringing, but a real mental illness, “very difficult and difficult to cure.” He compares chatterboxes to “leaky vessels”: nothing is retained in them, everything spills out.

The Holy Fathers speak about the same thing in the language of asceticism. Venerable Nicodemus the Holy Mountain...

Source: Site: Иваново-Вознесенская епархия · Read the full story →

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Ελένη Κωνσταντίνου

The comparison with Plutarch's "perforated containers" is very correct. I remember my grandmother saying "the mouth that does not close, the mind does not rest". Saint Nicodemus mentioned by father Dionysios is right, it is really a disease that is not easily seen. I will read this article again in peace.

Ζωή Χατζή

I agree, Helen, the "punctured containers" are a lasting image. Your grandmother was right, when the mouth is not quiet the mind is constantly racing and then you tire yourself unnecessarily. I try to pay attention to it especially after the shift at the hospital, because then I feel like talking about everything. Will you read it quietly?

Νίκος Αναγνώστου

I agree, Helen, the image with the pierced containers is one of the strongest. I, after hours at the wheel of the truck, often feel the need to tell everything to my passenger, and then I regret it. Saint Nicodemus says it clearly, it is an illness that wears you down without realizing it. You'll read it quietly, will you?

Ευάγγελος Παπαγεωργίου

I agree, Helen, your grandmother said it very well. Me after hours on the road by bus I feel exactly the same – the mouth opens by itself and then the mind does not rest all night. I will try to pay particular attention to it in the evening before prayer.

Δέσποινα Νικολαΐδου

Niko, the image of the punctured containers stuck with me too, especially when you drive for hours and then empty everything. I had the same thing yesterday at the checkout of the supermarket, I started talking about the children and then I felt empty. Have you read Plutarch at all?