Jack Benny Quotes

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

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

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

If you have nothing to say, say nothing.

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

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.

Being a good director is knowing sometimes when not to say something.

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

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

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

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

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

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

Diplomacy is more than saying or doing the right things at the right time, it is avoiding saying or doing the wrong things at any time.

One of my strengths is my ability to talk and communicate with people.

There are two great rules of life: never tell everything at once.

I always mean what I say, but I don't always say what I'm thinking.

It's very important in life to know when to shut up. You should not be afraid of silence.

Silence is better than unmeaning words.

It is all right to hold a conversation but you should let go of it now and then.

There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk.

Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much.

If you're not sure of what to say, don't say anything.

Where Mr. McKinley was patient, cautious, tactful and a very good listener…, Roosevelt is impetuous, impatient, and wholly lacking in tact.