Pachomius [saint who founded the first Christian monastaeries] was not the only one to notice that the single biggest threat to a quiet and peaceful environment is the human tongue. Most of his precepts having to do with silence are designed to rein in uncontrolled talking. It was easy for me to fall in love with silence — but it was far harder for me to think about shutting my own mouth in service of that goal.

Paula Huston, The Holy Way