De disciplina in locutione servanda; et primo quid loquendum
The Five Marks of Disciplined Speech
The novice is taught that disciplined speech requires discernment about what is said, to whom, where, when, and how, and that idle, harmful, dishonorable, or useless words must be avoided according to the quality of things and persons.
In speech there are five things to be observed: what is said, to whom it is said, where it is said, when it is said, and how it is said. What is to be said is first distinguished by this general rule: namely, that in disciplined conversation idle things should never be brought in. Idle things are all those that are either harmful, dishonorable, or useless. Useless things are those that benefit neither the speakers nor the listeners. Dishonorable things are those that do not suit the dignity of the person who speaks, the person spoken to, or the person spoken about. Harmful things are those that by their own persuasions lead the minds of listeners either to error or to depravity. These three — harmful, dishonorable, and useless — can be distinguished in two ways: according to the quality of the things the speech is about, and according to the quality of the persons through whom, to whom, or about whom the speech takes place. The quality of persons is considered in four ways: according to age, according to knowledge, according to office, and according to condition.
Speech Shaped by Age, Wisdom, and Vocation
The quality of persons is unfolded in four dimensions—age, knowledge, office, and state—and each is given a fitting subject: elders counsel, youths act, the wise teach Scripture, and the simple share good examples.
With respect to age, because what is fitting in the speech of elders is one thing, and what is fitting in the speech of youths is another. With respect to knowledge, because what is fitting in the speech of the wise is one thing, and what is fitting in the speech of the simple is another. With respect to office, because what is fitting in the speech of those who handle external affairs is one thing, and what is fitting in the speech of those who are watchful in the quiet of a more hidden life and in the zeal of contemplation is another. With respect to condition and state, because what is fitting in the speech of those who are prelates is one thing, and what is fitting in the speech of those who are subjects is another. Elders ought to speak about discretion in giving good counsel. Youths ought to speak about the earnestness of doing good. The wise ought to speak about the mysteries of the Scriptures. The simple ought to speak about the examples of good works.
Fitting Words for Every Role
Those in active service speak of practical skill, contemplatives of holy living, superiors of foresight, and subjects of obedience—each seeking subject matter worthy of their own vocation.
Those who deal with outward matters should speak about skill in acquiring things; those who lead a quiet life should speak about the discipline of living. Superiors should speak about foresight regarding those in their care; subjects about obedience to commands. And let each person who speaks seek, in keeping with the quality of his own role, a quality in the subject matter that is fitting for what he is to talk about.
Read the original Latin
In locutione quinque res sunt observandae, hoc est quid dicatur, cui dicatur, ubi dicatur, quando dicatur, quomodo dicatur. Quid autem dicendum sit, hoc primum generali distinctione discernitur, ut videlicet nunquam in sermonibus disciplinatis otiosa adhibeantur. Otiosa autem sunt omnia, quae sunt aut nociva, aut inhonesta, aut inutilia. Inutilia autem sunt, quae nec loquentibus, nec audientibus prosunt. Inhonesta sunt, quae vel illius qui loquitur, vel illius cui loquitur, vel illius de quo loquitur dignitati non conveniunt. Nociva sunt quae suis suasionibus animos auditorum sive ad errorem sive ad pravitatem inducunt. Haec autem tria, id est nociva, inhonesta, inutilia, duobus modis discerni possunt, id est secundum qualitatem rerum de quibus locutio sit, et secundum qualitatem personarum per quas, vel ad quas, vel de quibus locutio fit. Qualitas personarum quatuor modis consideratur, id est secundum aetatem, secundum scientiam, secundum officium, secundum conditionem.
Secundum aetatem, quia aliud convenit locutionibus senum, aliud locutionibus juvenum. Secundum scientiam, quia aliud convenit locutionibus sapientium, aliud locutionibus simplicium. Secundum officium, quia aliud convenit locutionibus eorum qui negotia exteriora tractant, aliud locutionibus eorum qui secretioris vitae quieti et studio contemplationis invigilant. Secundum conditionem ac statum, quia aliud convenit locutionibus eorum qui sunt praelati, aliud locutionibus eorum qui sunt subditi. Senes loqui debent de discretione bene consulendi. Juvenes de instantia benefaciendi. Sapientes de mysteriis Scripturarum. Simplices de exemplis bonorum operum.
Ii qui exteriora tractant negotia, de solertia acquirendi, ii qui quietam vitam ducunt, de disciplina vivendi. Praelati de provisione rerum, subjecti de obedientia praeceptorum. Et unusquisque qui loquitur secundum qualitatem personae suae, qualitatem materiae inquirat congruam de qua loquatur.
De Institutione Novitiorum (On the Instruction of Novices) companion
Keep the novice's rule going, one morning at a time
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Hugh trained novices with fixed daily portions of instruction; Chosen Portion continues that method by delivering one fixed devotional portion each day.
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