The eleventh step of humility is that a monk speaks gently and without laughter, seriously, and with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising his voice, as it is written: “A wise man is known by his few words.”

The Rule of St. Benedict, 7:60-61

I reflected briefly yesterday on the difficulty of squaring St. Benedict’s words against laughter and the realities of human life. Today’s step is in a similar vein, but perhaps has a bit more to grasp onto as we think about how to live with more humility. In fact, when taken together, the previous three steps all add up to a prescription towards being more careful, and perhaps a bit more sparing, with our words. This step comes through more clearly in this passage, which commends to modesty in speech, and gentleness, in addition to the saying quoted at the end. These seem like appropriate ways in which to speak, especially of important and ultimate things: modestly, gently, and in as few words as possible.

The tenth step of humility is that he is not given to ready laughter, for is written: Only a fool raises his voice in laughter (Sir 21:23).

The Rule of St. Benedict, 7:59

Our reading of St. Benedict is perhaps veering into the ridiculous here. The text shows its context most clearly in passages such as these, and it becomes difficult to make connections between a prohibition on laughter and how to live more humbly in our world today. Perhaps words could be said about avoiding the trivialization of the solemn, but as a firm believer in the idea of holy laughter, I will leave such arguments to others.

The ninth step of humility is that a monk controls his tongue and remains silent, not speaking unless asked a question, for Scripture warns, In a flood of words you will not avoid sinning (Prov 10:19). and, A Talkative man goes about aimlessly on earth (Ps 139 [140]:12).

The Rule of St. Benedict, 7:56-58