--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it…" description: "\"Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when need arises, and let it be carefully barred, that none may rouse thy voice to anger, and tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/saint-ambrose-29297_abuse_let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it_1817757.jpg" --- # Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when… ![“Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when need arises, and let it be carefully barred, that none may rouse thy voice to anger, and thou pay back abuse with abuse.” quote by Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/saint-ambrose-29297_abuse_let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it_1817757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/saint-ambrose-29297_abuse_let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it_1817757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/saint-ambrose-29297_abuse_let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it_1817757.jpg) > “Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when need arises, and let it be carefully barred, that none may rouse thy voice to anger, and thou pay back abuse with abuse.” [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control speech to prevent anger, choosing silence over retaliation when provoked. **In simple terms:** Speak only when necessary, avoid angry retaliation. Key Takeaway Pause before responding, keep silence as shield. Themes self‑control communication anger management Mood reflective calm Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - conflict - family - workplace - online debates Key Concepts Stoicism ethical restraint Questions to Reflect On - When have you let anger dictate your words? - How can you assert yourself without aggression? A Different Perspective Silence may be misinterpreted as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Arises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arises/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Barred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barred/) [Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carefully/) [Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door/) [Door Thy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door-thy-2114883/) [Let Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-carefully-2168004/) [Let Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-door-1548766/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth/) [Mouth Shut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-shut/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [None](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/none/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Shut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut/) [Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou/) [Thy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thy/) [Thy Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thy-mouth-2168003/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Keep thou an open door between thy child's life and thine own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-lindsay/keep-thou-an-open-door-between-thy-child-s-life-and-thine-own/) [Maud Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-lindsay/) > [“Open the door, my princess dear, Open the door to thy true love here! And mind the words that thou and I said By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/open-the-door-my-princess-dear-open-the-door-to-thy-true-love-here/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [When God's hand is on thy back, let thy hand be on thy mouth, for though the affliction be sharp it shall be but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/when-god-s-hand-is-on-thy-back-let-thy-hand-be-on-thy-mouth-for/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Many a sin has sullied me in body and in soul because I did not restrain my thoughts nor guard my lips: nevertheless it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/many-a-sin-has-sullied-me-in-body-and-in-soul-because-i-did-not/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/trust-ye-not-in-a-friend-put-ye-not-confidence-in-a-guide-keep-the/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Bind up thy words that they run not riot, and grow wanton, and gather up sins for themselves in too much talking. Let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/bind-up-thy-words-that-they-run-not-riot-and-grow-wanton-and-gather/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of Wisdom as a flowing brook. A fool's mouth is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/word-of-god/the-words-of-a-man-s-mouth-are-as-deep-waters-and-the-wellspring-of/) [Word Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/word-of-god/) > [Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-prokhorov/don-t-let-the-door-hit-you-where-the-good-lord-split-you/) [Mikhail Prokhorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-prokhorov/) > [Dnt let the door hit you when mother nature splits you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/netter/dnt-let-the-door-hit-you-when-mother-nature-splits-you/) [Netter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/netter/) > [Don't let the door hit you when you leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-hips/don-t-let-the-door-hit-you-when-you-leave/) [Mother Hips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-hips/) > [Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. Literally. It might fall and crush you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/don-t-let-the-door-hit-your-ass-on-the-way-out-literally-it-might/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [“Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/let-s-get-it-over-and-the-door-closed-shut-on-it-let-s-close-it-like-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Don't let the door hitcha where the good Lord splitcha.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/don-t-let-the-door-hitcha-where-the-good-lord-splitcha/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“It made me understand that we don't always get to decide what we let in and what we keep out. A door is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nanci-kincaid/it-made-me-understand-that-we-don-t-always-get-to-decide-what-we-let/) [Nanci Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nanci-kincaid/) > [Im me if you dont like dont let the door hit you to hard on the way out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miztmk/im-me-if-you-dont-like-dont-let-the-door-hit-you-to-hard-on-the-way/) [MIZTMK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miztmk/) ## More by Saint Ambrose > [God created the universe in such a manner that all in common might derive their food from it, and that the Earth should also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/god-created-the-universe-in-such-a-manner-that-all-in-common-might/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Take away the contests of the martyrs, and you have taken away their crowns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/take-away-the-contests-of-the-martyrs-and-you-have-taken-away-their/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Forget not, O Lord, that I am one of those whom Thou hast created, and with Thine own blood hast redeemed. I repent me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/forget-not-o-lord-that-i-am-one-of-those-whom-thou-hast-created-and/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [The emperor is in the Church, not above the Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/the-emperor-is-in-the-church-not-above-the-church/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Where a man's heart is, there is his treasure also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/where-a-man-s-heart-is-there-is-his-treasure-also/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [No one is good but God alone. What is good is therefore divine, what is divine is therefore good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/no-one-is-good-but-god-alone-what-is-good-is-therefore-divine-what-is/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Bind up thy words that they run not riot, and grow wanton, and gather up sins for themselves in too much talking. Let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/bind-up-thy-words-that-they-run-not-riot-and-grow-wanton-and-gather/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [The best way to use the gold of the Redeemer is for the redemption of those in peril.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/the-best-way-to-use-the-gold-of-the-redeemer-is-for-the-redemption-of/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [O most merciful Father, put far from me all my iniquities and all my offences; so that, by Thee made whole in body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/o-most-merciful-father-put-far-from-me-all-my-iniquities-and-all-my/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [It is not from your own goods that you give to the beggar; it is a portion of his own that you are restoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/it-is-not-from-your-own-goods-that-you-give-to-the-beggar-it-is-a/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Many a sin has sullied me in body and in soul because I did not restrain my thoughts nor guard my lips: nevertheless it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/many-a-sin-has-sullied-me-in-body-and-in-soul-because-i-did-not/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [A duty is to be chosen from what is virtuous, and from what is useful, and also from the comparison of the two, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/a-duty-is-to-be-chosen-from-what-is-virtuous-and-from-what-is-useful/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Nothing escapes God's knowledge. This is proved by the witness of the Scriptures and the analogy of the sun, which, although created, yet by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/nothing-escapes-god-s-knowledge-this-is-proved-by-the-witness-of-the/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [One of the duties of fortitude is to keep the weak from receiving injury; another, to check the wrong motions of our own souls;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/one-of-the-duties-of-fortitude-is-to-keep-the-weak-from-receiving/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Nothing graces the Christian soul so much as mercy; mercy as shown chiefly towards the poor, that thou mayest treat them as sharers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/nothing-graces-the-christian-soul-so-much-as-mercy-mercy-as-shown/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) [Explore all 18 Saint Ambrose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when need arises, and let it be carefully barred, that none may rouse thy voice to anger, and thou pay back abuse with abuse.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint Ambrose" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it-may-be-shut-when-need-arises/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it-may-be-shut-when-need-arises/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/saint-ambrose-29297_abuse_let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it_1817757.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/saint-ambrose-29297_abuse_let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it_1817757.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/saint-ambrose-29297_abuse_let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it_1817757.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when need arises, and let it be carefully barred, that…” — Saint Ambrose", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Saint Ambrose", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let there be a door to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it-may-be-shut-when-need-arises/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/let-there-be-a-door-to-thy-mouth-that-it-may-be-shut-when-need-arises/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```