Halakhah sa Eclesiastes 5:3: Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions

Ever let man multiply silence, and not speak aught else save in a matter of wisdom or of things which he needs for the sustenance of life in his body. Of Rab, the disciple of our Holy Master, it was said, that he never in his life uttered idle talk⁴ Caro contradicts the text here, saying: “I found in Sukkah, 28, that this distinction was attributed to Rabbi Johanan, but about Rab I DO not now know where to locate such statement.” The text is correct, as Maimonides only quotes references which are laws of conduct and not sermons. See Yoma, 19b about the name Kaputal and Kabutal. G.. Verily, such is the talk of a majority of the people, whereas, even of the necessities of the body man should not multiply words. Concerning this the sages admonished, saying: "Whosoever propogates words generates sin" (Pir. Ab. 1.17). And they, moreover, said: "I found nothing better for the body than silence" (Ibid). Likewise in words of Torah and in words of wisdom shall man's words be few but the thought therein sagacious, which is what the sages charged saying: "Ever let the master instruct his disciples concisely" (Hullin. 63b). But if the words be many and their meaning insignificant it is but stupidity, concerning which it was said: "For a dream cometh through a multitude of matter, and the voice of a fool cometh with a multitude of words" (Ecc. 5.3).