At a monastery high in the mountains, the monks have a rigid vow of silence. Only at Christmas, and only by one monk, and only with one sentence, is the vow allowed to be broken.
One Christmas, Brother Ben is allowed to speak and he says, “I like the mashed potatoes we have with the Christmas turkey!” and he sits down. Silence ensues for 365 days.
The next Christmas, Brother David gets his turn, and he says, “I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I hate them!”
Once again, silence for 366 days (it’s leap year). The following Christmas, Brother Rod rises and says, “I am fed up with this constant bickering!”
Silence is the mother of truth. - Benjamin Disraeli
Real action is in silent moments. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Silence is a source of great strength. - Lao Tzu
When the owl sings, the night is silent. - Charles de Leusse
Of those who say nothing, few are silent. - Thomas Neill
Where gold speaks every tongue is silent. - Italian Proverb
Speech is of time; silence is of eternity. - Thomas Carlyle
Oppression can only survive through silence. - Armen de Monteflores
Silence is sometimes the severest criticism. - Charles Buxton
You misinterpret everything, even the silence. - Franz Kafka
I never heard a minute's silence like that. - Glenn Hoddle
All I want is blackness. Blackness and silence. - Sylvia Plath
The New Year begins in a snow-storm of white vows. - George William Curtis
Love is the silent saying and saying of a single name. - Mignon McLaughlin
The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Experience teaches us that silence terrifies people the most. - Bob Dylan
Silence is not the absence of sound, but the absence of self. - Anthony de Mello
If silence be good for the wise, how much the better for fools. - Talmud
There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it. - George Bernard Shaw
The Religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
In silence there is eloquence. Stop weaving and see how the pattern improves. - Rumi
My favourite characters in the Bible are King David, Delilah and Charlton Heston. - Milton Berle
A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. - Martin Luther
Aren't we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa. - Bart Simpson
I built my church on Easter services, Christmas Eve services, and Norman Vincent Peale. - Robert H. Schuller
You have a grand gift for silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion. - Arthur Conan Doyle
Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much. - William Shakespeare
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongue. - Old Testament
Are you saying that the Rebel Alliance were religious terrorists and Yoda was a benefit cheat? - Dave Turner
No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas. - Robert Kirby
It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent. - Madeleine Albright
When I make a vow to God, then I would suggest to you that's even stronger than a handshake in Texas. - Rick Perry
The Muslim world is threatened by religious fanaticism. The Western world is threatened by secular fanaticism. - Dennis Prager
I gave my young nephew a book for Christmas. He's spent six months looking for where to put the batteries. - Milton Berle
Remembering is a gift - a silent gift, because it roots us in reality while at the same time pointing us towards eternity. - Raphael Anzenberger
The true genius shudders at incompleteness - and usually prefers silence to saying something which is not everything it should be. - Edgar Allan Poe
Secrets, silent, stony sit in the dark palaces of both our hearts: secrets weary of their tyranny: tyrants willing to be dethroned. - James Joyce
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. - Harvey Fierstein
Prayer and the Bible became a part of my everyday thoughts and beliefs. I learned to put my trust in God and to seek Him as my strength. - Rosa Parks
The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others. - Solomon Ibn Gabriol
Real action is in silent moments. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Silence is a source of great strength. - Lao Tzu
When the owl sings, the night is silent. - Charles de Leusse
Of those who say nothing, few are silent. - Thomas Neill
Where gold speaks every tongue is silent. - Italian Proverb
Speech is of time; silence is of eternity. - Thomas Carlyle
Oppression can only survive through silence. - Armen de Monteflores
Silence is sometimes the severest criticism. - Charles Buxton
You misinterpret everything, even the silence. - Franz Kafka
I never heard a minute's silence like that. - Glenn Hoddle
All I want is blackness. Blackness and silence. - Sylvia Plath
The New Year begins in a snow-storm of white vows. - George William Curtis
Love is the silent saying and saying of a single name. - Mignon McLaughlin
The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Experience teaches us that silence terrifies people the most. - Bob Dylan
Silence is not the absence of sound, but the absence of self. - Anthony de Mello
If silence be good for the wise, how much the better for fools. - Talmud
There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it. - George Bernard Shaw
The Religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
In silence there is eloquence. Stop weaving and see how the pattern improves. - Rumi
My favourite characters in the Bible are King David, Delilah and Charlton Heston. - Milton Berle
A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. - Martin Luther
Aren't we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa. - Bart Simpson
I built my church on Easter services, Christmas Eve services, and Norman Vincent Peale. - Robert H. Schuller
You have a grand gift for silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion. - Arthur Conan Doyle
Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much. - William Shakespeare
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongue. - Old Testament
Are you saying that the Rebel Alliance were religious terrorists and Yoda was a benefit cheat? - Dave Turner
No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas. - Robert Kirby
It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent. - Madeleine Albright
When I make a vow to God, then I would suggest to you that's even stronger than a handshake in Texas. - Rick Perry
The Muslim world is threatened by religious fanaticism. The Western world is threatened by secular fanaticism. - Dennis Prager
I gave my young nephew a book for Christmas. He's spent six months looking for where to put the batteries. - Milton Berle
Remembering is a gift - a silent gift, because it roots us in reality while at the same time pointing us towards eternity. - Raphael Anzenberger
The true genius shudders at incompleteness - and usually prefers silence to saying something which is not everything it should be. - Edgar Allan Poe
Secrets, silent, stony sit in the dark palaces of both our hearts: secrets weary of their tyranny: tyrants willing to be dethroned. - James Joyce
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. - Harvey Fierstein
Prayer and the Bible became a part of my everyday thoughts and beliefs. I learned to put my trust in God and to seek Him as my strength. - Rosa Parks
The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others. - Solomon Ibn Gabriol
see also Christmas & Religious Sections
Celebate or Celebrate?
Friar Thumper
Gambling Chips
Greek Monk
Monk On A Rope
Monk’s Fish And Chip Stand
Monk’s Story
Silent Monks Singing Hallelujah
Tiny Monks
Voices In My Head
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 Perception |  Jeopardy Measuring Cup |  All We Have To Do Is Stand Up |  Vacuum Extender |  BrownEes |
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 Tunnel Face |  The Bugs Are Bad This Year |  Dog Spa |  Ostrich Imprint |  Local Crabs |
29-Jun-2022 |