If it be another man that cometh to teach thee, as some Churchman, etc., hear him humbly, and with reverence to his order; and if his speeches comfort thee, ask of him more what thou needest, and take not upon thee to teach him, for it falleth not to thy share to teach a priest, but in case of necessity. If his speech comfort thee or profit thee not, answer little, and he will soon take his leave. (John Climacus)

If I was observing this rule, many of these morning meditations would have even less to them.

Climacus does not always comfort me. But with questions and engagement his writings do profit me.

The issue, I expect, is to discern teaching from self-assertion.

Teaching can be an ego-inflating task. It is easy for a teacher to divert from teaching into bloviating.

Any question or even feigned interest will further inflate the bloviator... and distract us from more fruitful tasks.