Patrick Rothfuss Quotes

If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.

Knowing when to keep your mouth shut is invariably more important than opening it at the right time.

One of the most beneficial things I've ever learned is how to keep my mouth shut.

When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "A fool cannot hold his tongue.

Knowing when to say something and when not to say something is important.

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees.

An Englishman's never so natural as when he's holding his tongue.

Be sure your wisest words are those you do not say.

You know, I have found out in the course of a long public life that the things I did not say never hurt me.

A man is known by the silence he keeps.

Sometimes, the best response is no response.

To be silent is sometimes an art, yet not so great a one as certain people would have us believe, who are wisest they are most silent.

Everyone breathes in air, but it's a wise person who knows when to use that air to speak and when to exhale in silence.

Have you ever heard the phrase, it is better to keep your mouth closed and have people wonder if you are stupid than open it and remove all doubt? (Hakim al Harbi)

Silence, when nothing need be said, is the eloquence of discretion.

Silence is one great art of conversation. He is not a fool who knows when to hold his tongue; and a person may gain credit for sense, eloquence, wit, who merely says nothing to lessen the opinion which others have of these qualities in themselves.

Why must you speak your thoughts? Silence, if fair words stick in your throat, would serve all our ends better.

Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer.

Now the thing is not to get into unnecessary quarrels by talking too much and not to indicate any weakness by talking too much; let our actions speak for themselves.

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.

All truth is not to be told at all times.

It's not so much knowing when to speak, when to pause.

The time comes upon every public man when it is best for him to keep his lips closed.

There is a time to speak and a time to listen, and sometimes people need to shut up.