Struggling with speaking—whether in public or even with a friend? A medieval treatise offers timeless advice on what not to do.
Written in the early 14th century, Fiore di virtù (“Flower of Virtue“) is an Italian guide that aims to help people become better individuals—whether through mercy, generosity, or, in this case, wise communication. Much of its advice comes through quoting classical figures like Socrates and Solomon, though some of these quotes are questionable in authenticity.
One of the final sections focuses on the art of speaking, beginning with three essential rules:
- Don’t speak when you’re angry.
- Be cautious about whom you address.
- Watch your words carefully.
After laying out these basics, the Fiore di virtù goes further, warning to “avoid fifteen principal pitfalls.” It then lists these common traps to sidestep in conversation:
1. Excessive talking.
Solomon says: “He who does not control his tongue is like an unbridled horse, a house without walls, a ship without a helmsman, a vineyard without a hedge.’’
David says: “He who talks too much will not be loved in the world.”
Socrates says: “Whoever is not silent by his own choice will be silenced by others and will be despised in the bargain.”
Aristotle says: ““He who is silent knows the words of others, but he who speaks reveals his own.”’
2. Beware of opposing others and of arguing.
Cato says that the gift of speech is given to many, but the gift of speaking wisely is given to few. He also says: “Let your friend have the upper hand in an argument even though you could have it yourself.”
Seneca says: “Do not reveal to others that which you wish to remain secret. Just as you yourself are unable to keep a secret, so you must think that another will not keep it either.”
3. Do not contradict yourself.
Cato says: “Contradict others as much as you want, so long as you never contradict yourself.”
Varrus says: “He who contradicts himself will find many who will contradict him also.”
Plato says: “Self-contradiction in speech is the sign of an empty brain.”
4. Beware of saying vain, useless, idle and insane words.
St. Sixtus says: “Idle words are sign of an idle conscience.”
Seneca says: “Words should not be idle, but should always advise, teach, order or reprimand.”
5. Be not of two tongues—that is do not say a good word first and a bad one after, nor say one thing to one and another to someone else.
Socrates says: “No animal except man and woman has two tongues.”
6. Do not sow evil.
Jesus, son of Sirach, says: “Short of anything else, seal your ears with thorns in order not to hear the news spread by evil tongues.”
Solomon says: “He who always finds evil will be struck by evil.”
Sallust says: “All evils spread from evil-sayers.”
7. Do not give oaths without great reason.
St. Isidore says: ““He who uses ambiguous and obscure words cannot deceive God. For God knows all.”
Solomon says: “The man who gives oaths will be filled with great iniquity.”
8. Do not threaten.
Valerius Maximus says: “He who threatens always seems more insane than he really is.”
Horace says: “One thing is to say something as a joke showing one’s good intentions, but another is to mean bad things.’’
Aesop says: “Often those who threaten most do less than others.”
9. Do not curse.
The wise man says: “Before fire there is always smoke—before shedding of blood we always hear curses and threats.”
10. Do not use harsh and crude words.
Solomon says: “Well formed words are sweet as honey.” Also he says: “Sweet words destroy anger while harsh words multiply fury.”
Jesus, son of Sirach, says: “Sweet words multiply friends and tame enemies.’’ He also says: “The zither and the lute make very sweet sounds—but sweet above all is the sound of the mouth.”
11. Utter no filthy words.
St. Paul says: “Filthy words corrupt good customs.”
Homer says: ‘‘The tongue shows what is hidden in the heart.”
12. Do not insult others.
Solomon says: “He who insanely proclaims the shortcomings of others will hear about his own much too soon for his taste.”
Aristotle says: “He who has a log in his eye tells others to take the seed out of theirs.”
13. Do not mock others.
Solomon says: “God will mock mockers, but He will give His grace to the mild.”
Cato says: “Do not mock anyone for there is no man on earth without some vice.”
Seneca says: “Do not mock your friend. He will be sooner angered than one who is not your friend.”
Sallust says: “Mockers are like monkeys. They mock everyone, but all humans ridicule them.”
14. Do not speak obscurely like wits often do.
St. Isidore says: “It is better to be mute than to say something that cannot be understood.”
Jesus, son of Sirach, says: “He who speaks obscurely wants to appear wiser than he is.” Man therefore must think of the reason that moves him to talk obscurely, always keeping in mind the place, the time, the way.”
Plato says: “Whatever you say without reason is worth little and is considered madness.”
15. This is when a man is incapable of putting in order that which he wants to say.
First of all he must arrange and place his person in an appropriate manner. This means that his face must always be straight, and he must not twist his lips. He should not keep his eyes fixed on those to whom he is speaking, nor should he keep them fixed on the ground. But he must deport himself graciously as the situation requires, conforming his expression as much as possible to that which he plans to say. Nor should he move his head, nor his shoulders, nor his hands, nor his feet, nor any part of his body. Never spit nor pull up with his nose, if he can help it. And he should also arrange and discipline his tongue so that it be limber and free. While talking, do not use up too much time between one word and the next, and do not talk too often and do not repeat your words as you speak. Then the speaker should think of his voice, because things of great importance must be said aloud, although not in too high a voice—while things of lesser importance may be said in a lower voice.
The Fiore di virtù would be a popular book in Italy into the 16th century. This version here is from The Florentine Fior di Virtu of 1491, which was translated by Nicholas Fersin and published in 1953. You can still buy it on Amazon.com.
Top Image: BnF MS Fr1877 fol. 8r
Struggling with speaking—whether in public or even with a friend? A medieval treatise offers timeless advice on what not to do.
Written in the early 14th century, Fiore di virtù (“Flower of Virtue“) is an Italian guide that aims to help people become better individuals—whether through mercy, generosity, or, in this case, wise communication. Much of its advice comes through quoting classical figures like Socrates and Solomon, though some of these quotes are questionable in authenticity.
One of the final sections focuses on the art of speaking, beginning with three essential rules:
After laying out these basics, the Fiore di virtù goes further, warning to “avoid fifteen principal pitfalls.” It then lists these common traps to sidestep in conversation:
1. Excessive talking.
Solomon says: “He who does not control his tongue is like an unbridled horse, a house without walls, a ship without a helmsman, a vineyard without a hedge.’’
David says: “He who talks too much will not be loved in the world.”
Socrates says: “Whoever is not silent by his own choice will be silenced by others and will be despised in the bargain.”
Aristotle says: ““He who is silent knows the words of others, but he who speaks reveals his own.”’
2. Beware of opposing others and of arguing.
Cato says that the gift of speech is given to many, but the gift of speaking wisely is given to few. He also says: “Let your friend have the upper hand in an argument even though you could have it yourself.”
Seneca says: “Do not reveal to others that which you wish to remain secret. Just as you yourself are unable to keep a secret, so you must think that another will not keep it either.”
3. Do not contradict yourself.
Cato says: “Contradict others as much as you want, so long as you never contradict yourself.”
Varrus says: “He who contradicts himself will find many who will contradict him also.”
Plato says: “Self-contradiction in speech is the sign of an empty brain.”
4. Beware of saying vain, useless, idle and insane words.
St. Sixtus says: “Idle words are sign of an idle conscience.”
Seneca says: “Words should not be idle, but should always advise, teach, order or reprimand.”
5. Be not of two tongues—that is do not say a good word first and a bad one after, nor say one thing to one and another to someone else.
Socrates says: “No animal except man and woman has two tongues.”
6. Do not sow evil.
Jesus, son of Sirach, says: “Short of anything else, seal your ears with thorns in order not to hear the news spread by evil tongues.”
Solomon says: “He who always finds evil will be struck by evil.”
Sallust says: “All evils spread from evil-sayers.”
7. Do not give oaths without great reason.
St. Isidore says: ““He who uses ambiguous and obscure words cannot deceive God. For God knows all.”
Solomon says: “The man who gives oaths will be filled with great iniquity.”
8. Do not threaten.
Valerius Maximus says: “He who threatens always seems more insane than he really is.”
Horace says: “One thing is to say something as a joke showing one’s good intentions, but another is to mean bad things.’’
Aesop says: “Often those who threaten most do less than others.”
9. Do not curse.
The wise man says: “Before fire there is always smoke—before shedding of blood we always hear curses and threats.”
10. Do not use harsh and crude words.
Solomon says: “Well formed words are sweet as honey.” Also he says: “Sweet words destroy anger while harsh words multiply fury.”
Jesus, son of Sirach, says: “Sweet words multiply friends and tame enemies.’’ He also says: “The zither and the lute make very sweet sounds—but sweet above all is the sound of the mouth.”
11. Utter no filthy words.
St. Paul says: “Filthy words corrupt good customs.”
Homer says: ‘‘The tongue shows what is hidden in the heart.”
12. Do not insult others.
Solomon says: “He who insanely proclaims the shortcomings of others will hear about his own much too soon for his taste.”
Aristotle says: “He who has a log in his eye tells others to take the seed out of theirs.”
13. Do not mock others.
Solomon says: “God will mock mockers, but He will give His grace to the mild.”
Cato says: “Do not mock anyone for there is no man on earth without some vice.”
Seneca says: “Do not mock your friend. He will be sooner angered than one who is not your friend.”
Sallust says: “Mockers are like monkeys. They mock everyone, but all humans ridicule them.”
14. Do not speak obscurely like wits often do.
St. Isidore says: “It is better to be mute than to say something that cannot be understood.”
Jesus, son of Sirach, says: “He who speaks obscurely wants to appear wiser than he is.” Man therefore must think of the reason that moves him to talk obscurely, always keeping in mind the place, the time, the way.”
Plato says: “Whatever you say without reason is worth little and is considered madness.”
15. This is when a man is incapable of putting in order that which he wants to say.
First of all he must arrange and place his person in an appropriate manner. This means that his face must always be straight, and he must not twist his lips. He should not keep his eyes fixed on those to whom he is speaking, nor should he keep them fixed on the ground. But he must deport himself graciously as the situation requires, conforming his expression as much as possible to that which he plans to say. Nor should he move his head, nor his shoulders, nor his hands, nor his feet, nor any part of his body. Never spit nor pull up with his nose, if he can help it. And he should also arrange and discipline his tongue so that it be limber and free. While talking, do not use up too much time between one word and the next, and do not talk too often and do not repeat your words as you speak. Then the speaker should think of his voice, because things of great importance must be said aloud, although not in too high a voice—while things of lesser importance may be said in a lower voice.
The Fiore di virtù would be a popular book in Italy into the 16th century. This version here is from The Florentine Fior di Virtu of 1491, which was translated by Nicholas Fersin and published in 1953. You can still buy it on Amazon.com.
Top Image: BnF MS Fr1877 fol. 8r
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