Speech And Crowns

Μὴ θέλε τὸν ἡγούμενόν σου εἶναι σοφὸν τῳ λόγῳ· οὐ γὰρ πάντως οἱ σοφοὶ τῷ λόγῳ εὐαρεστοῦσι τῷ Θεῷ, ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνο ζήτησον, ὅπως ἂν μέχρι τέλους ὑποταγῇς τῷ ἰδιώτῃ σὺ ὁ τῷ δοκεῖν σεσοφισμένος τῇ τοῦ κόσμου σοφίᾳ, τῆς ταπεινοφρονεύνης, καὶ τῆς γνησιωτάτης ὑποταγῆς τὸν πολυτίμητον στέφανον ἀναδήσῇ. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΛΔ' Σωφρονιῳ Μονακῳ Migne PG 79 97-100

Do not have it as your greatest wish to be one of those wise in speech, for it is not those who are skilled in speech who are pleasing to God, but rather let it be sought how to the end you will be subject to ignorance who in the opinion of men excel in the wisdom of the world; it is by humility and true submission that you will be adorned with the precious crown. 1 Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 1, Letter 34, to the Monk Sophronius 1 Ps 20.4