Pope John XXIII Quotes

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

Knowing when to keep your mouth shut is invariably more important than opening it at the right time.

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

Not every truth is the better for showing its face undisguised; and often silence is the wisest thing for a man to heed.

Half of seeming clever is keeping your mouth shut at the right times.

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.

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.

Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth.

Silence is one great art of conversation. He is not a fool who knows when to hold his tongue; and a person may gain credit for sense, eloquence, wit, who merely says nothing to lessen the opinion which others have of these qualities in themselves.

All truth is not to be told at all times.

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees.

It is not every question that deserves an answer.

It is well for one to know more than he says.

'Tis not every question that deserves an answer.

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

Be sure your wisest words are those you do not say.

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

In politics you'll never get into trouble by not saying too much.

If you are a wise man, sitting in the council of your lord, direct your thought toward that which is wise. Be silent rather than scatter your words. When you speak, know that which can be brought against you. To speak in the council is an art, and speech is criticized more than any other labor; it is contradiction which puts it to the proof

Let your accusations be few in number, even if they be just.

The wise man knows when to keep silent. Only the fool tells all he knows.

Fools give you reasons, wise men never try.

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.