Jean de la Bruyere Quotes

It is a great misfortune not to possess sufficient wit to speak well, nor sufficient judgment to keep 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.

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.

Coolidge is a better example of evolution than either Bryan or Darrow, for he knows when not to talk, which is the biggest asset the monkey possesses over the human.

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

He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together.

Knowing when to speak up and when to shut up will get you very far not only in business, but in life.

Teach your child to hold his tongue; he'll learn fast enough to speak.

Great talkers should be cropt, for they've no need of ears.

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

The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.

Silence and tact may or may not be the same thing.

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

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

Sitting down for dinner not only helps you learn, but also teaches you how to listen - which I feel is the most important skill to have. I remember as a kid going around the table listening to everyone's day. It was hard to have the manners not to interrupt back then.

It's good for the soul to hear yourself as others hear you, and next time maybe, just maybe, you will not talk so much, so loudly, so brilliantly, so charmingly, so utterly shamelessly foolishly.

I don't know how to talk. Oh! talk to every woman as if you loved her, and to every man as if he bored you, and at the end of your first season you will have the reputation of possessing the most perfect social tact.

... not talking about things she doesn't understand to people who do or about things she does to people who don't.

The sheer act of listening speaks volumes that even a great speech can't communicate.

When we don't speak, said Edgar, we become unbearable, and when we do, we make fools of ourselves.

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)

Not every one who has the gift of speech understands the value of silence.

Better the feet slip then the tongue.

In the faculty of speech man excels the brute; but if thou utterest what is improper, the brute is they superior.