於是一個學者說，請你講講談話。
他回答說：
在你不安於你的思想的時候，你就說話。
在你不能再在你心的孤寂中生活的時候，你就要在你的唇上生活，而聲音是一種消遣，一種娛樂。
在你許多的談話裡，思想半受殘害。
思想是天空中的鳥，在語言的籠裡，也許會展翅，卻不會飛翔。
你們中間有許多人，因為怕靜，就去找多話的人。
在獨居的寂靜裡，會在他們眼中呈現出他們赤裸的自己，他們就想逃避。
也有些說話的人，並沒有知識和考慮，卻要啟示一種他們自己所不明白的真理。
也有些人的心裡隱存著真理，他們卻不用言語來訴說。
在這些人的胸懷中，心靈居住在有韻調的寂靜裡。
當你在道旁或市場遇見你朋友的時候，讓你的心靈，運用你的嘴唇，指引你的舌頭。讓你聲音裡的聲音，對他耳朵的耳朵說話：
因為他的靈魂要噙住你心中的真理。
如同酒光被忘卻，酒杯也不存留，而酒味卻永遠被紀念。
20
On Talking
And then a scholar said, "Speak of Talking." And he answered, saying:
You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;
And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a persion and a pastime.
And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.
For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words many indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.
There are those among you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone.
The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.
And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.
And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words.
In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.
When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the market place, let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue.
Let the voice within your voice speak to the car of his ear;
For his soul will keep the truth of your heart as the taste of the wine is remembered.
When the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more.