Sayings of the Holy Fathers:

Let there be no studied elegance in the words of your prayer: how often the simple and monotonous lisping of little children make their father give in to them! Do not launch out into long discourses that fritter away your mind in efforts for eloquence. One word alone spoken by the Publican touched God’s mercy; a single word full of faith saved the Good Thief. Prolixity in prayer often fills the mind with images and distracts it. While often one single word draws it into recollection.

 St. John Climacus

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"A house is a little church... let your prayers be common. Let each go to Church; and let the husband ask his wife at home, and she again ask her husband, the account of the things which were said and read there .... Teach her that there is nothing in life that is to be feared, save only offending against God. If any marry thus, with these views, he will be but little. 

Fr Seraphim Rose, "Letters" 

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Some brothers narrated the following story: One day we went to visit the old men and as was customary, once we had said the prayers and they had greeted us, we sat down. After talking with them we wanted to leave, and we asked them to say a prayer. One of the old men said, "What do you mean? Haven't you been praying?" We said, "Abba, there was the prayer when we came, but up till now we have been conversing." The old man said, "Forgive me, brothers, but there is a brother sitting and conversing with you who has, during this time, said three hundred prayers." When he had said that, they said the prayer, and took leave of us.  

The Desert Fathers