Mark Twain Quotes

Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.

Wise men, when in doubt whether to speak or to keep quiet, give themselves the benefit of the doubt, and remain silent.

I suppose that people, using themselves and each other so much by words, are at least consistent in attributing wisdom to a still tongue.

Nothing is more like a wise man than a fool who holds his tongue.

Much tongue and much judgment seldom go together.

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

We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words.

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

Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.

It illustrates vividly my incapacity of knowing when to be silent and when to speak.

Tis better to sit there and look the fool, than to open your mouth and prove it.

It is but a small merit to observe silence, but it is a grave fault to speak of matters on which we should be silent.

You'll regret opening your mouth. You'll rarely regret keeping it 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.

It is wise to be silent when occasion requires, and better than to speak, though never so well.

A sparing tongue is the greatest treasure among men.

A fool cannot hold his tongue.

Let the poor man mind his tongue

Remember what Simonides said, that he never repented that he had held his tongue, but often that he had spoken.

I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual now-a-days to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot

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