M6:1596 — گر دو حرف صدق گویی ای فلان / گفت تیره در تبع گردد روان

Translation: O so-and-so, even if you utter two words of truth, The darkened speech will flow forth from your nature.

Meaning: This couplet warns against the peril of excessive speech, suggesting that even well-intentioned words can become muddled and erroneous if one speaks too much, as speech tends to proliferate unchecked.

I consider this couplet to be one of the most profound warnings regarding the affliction of the tongue. Here, Rumi points to something that often remains hidden: the danger lies not only in speaking falsehoods but also in the excess of even truth and sincerity. The Prophet said that companions are like guiding stars, and in this context, Rumi considers speech itself to be a "perturbation of thought" (tashwīsh-i naẓar). Speech disturbs and disquiets thought, and the prerequisite for being thoughtful and meditative is silence. Excessive speech, let me be clear, is a sign of shallow thinking and emptiness; this must be understood deeply.

But Rumi goes even further. He doesn't just say, "don't lie." He says, even if you begin with pure intent and sincerity, uttering just "two words of truth" (do ḥarf-i ṣidq), this very act can set the engine of speech in motion. And once it starts, the reins of discourse are lost. That "darkened speech" (gofta-ye tīra) that flows from one's "nature" (ṭabʿ) refers precisely to this lack of control. Speech begets speech; this is an ineluctable rule. As the Arabic proverb states: «الکلام یجرّ الکلام» (Speech draws on speech). The noble ḥadīth must always be at the forefront of our minds: «مَن کَثُرَ کَلامُهُ کَثُرَ خَطَؤُهُ» (Whoever speaks much, errs much). Why? Because one is not always at the peak of rationality and steadfastness; moments arise when blood doesn't reach the brain, idle talk begins, and inappropriate words spill forth.

Even in "virtuous speech" (ḥarf-i roshd) — that is, good and guiding words — one should not be the "initiator" (shāreʿ). For speech draws other speech in its wake, creating turbidity for the speaker. Just as a spring initially gives clear water, but if allowed to flow unchecked, muddy and turbid water will issue forth, so too, once the mouth is opened, it is no longer under one's control. Speech that is initially pure and clear gradually becomes murky, darkening the human soul. This is a warning for all of us who believe our words are always truthful and flawless. No, the very nature of garrulity is an affliction, even for those who begin from truth and sincerity.

Key takeaways

• Silence is a prerequisite for deep thought; garrulity is a sign of shallow thinking.
• Even truthful speech, when excessive, gradually becomes muddled and confused.
• Rumi likens speech to a spring: initially clear, but if uncontrolled, it yields turbid water.
• Once the mouth is opened, speech escapes the speaker's control, increasing the likelihood of error.
• The prophetic saying, 'Whoever speaks much, errs much,' is a fundamental lesson in the Masnavi.