Jean de la Bruyere Quotes

It is a sad thing when men have neither the wit to speak well, nor the judgment to hold their tongues.

He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.

It is a great misfortune neither to have enough wit to talk well nor enough judgment to be silent.

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.

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

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

It is a sad thing when men have neither enough intelligence to speak well nor enough sense to hold their tongues; this is the root of all impertinence.

Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.

I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.

You can't know too much, but you can say too much.

Speake fitly, or be silent wisely.

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)

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.

Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly.

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

Silence is Wisdom where Speaking is Folly.

Silence does not always mark wisdom.

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

It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.

Much tongue and much judgment seldom go together.

If you keep your mouth shut you will never put your foot in it.

All truth is not to be told at all times.

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

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little.