Henry Adams Quotes

Bind up thy words that they run not riot, and grow wanton, and gather up sins for themselves in too much talking. Let them be rather confined, and held back within their own banks. An overflowing river quickly gathers mud.

While thou livest keep a good tongue in thy head.

Less pains in the world a man cannot take than to bold his tongue.

To many men well-fitting doors are not set on their tongues.

Though we have two eyes, we are supplied with but one tongue. Draw your own moral.

There are many men whose tongues might govern multitudes if they could govern their tongues.

Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.

He lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of a man, his own tongue.

The human tongue is a beast that few can master.

Silence, maiden; thy tongue outruns thy discretion.

Surely human affairs would be far happier if the power in men to be silent were the same as that to speak. But experience more than sufficiently teaches that men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues.

I have made a pact with my tongue, not to speak when my heart is disturbed.

Everyone has freedom to say whatever they want to say. I think it takes a stronger person to hold their tongue as opposed to speaking out.

Let the poor man mind his tongue

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.

Half the sorrows of women would be averted if they could repress the speech they know to be useless-nay, the speech they have resolved not to utter.

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

Let not the tongue give utterance to the evil that is in thine heart, but command thy tongue to be silent until good shall prevail over evil.

I cannot, nor I will not hold me still; My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will.

He who does not know how to be silent will not know how to speak.

I never, with important air, In conversation overbear. . . . . My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks much must talk in vain.

No fool can be silent at a feast.

Watchin' and listenin' is the thing at present; not talking.

If any man think it a small matter, or of mean concernment, to bridle his tongue, he is much mistaken; for it is a point to be silent when occasion requires, and better than to speak, though never so well.

A sparing tongue is the greatest treasure among men.