The 10th Step on St. Benedict’s Ladder of Humility is that one not be given to ready laughter.

This may seem rather unimportant unless you consider that a too quick reply to something with laughter may make you sound foolish or disrespectful. We’ve all done that and pretty much felt silly and idiotic afterwords, particularly when it was inappropriate.

I believe that this step is about discipline and self-control. If we have a well developed (or developing) spiritual life, then perhaps we are on the path towards greater peace within ourselves and a more stable relationship with the people, places and things around us. Therefore we are less given to inappropriate outbursts (of laughter or anger).

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