William Drummond Quotes

He that hath knowledge spareth his words.

I will begin to speak when I have that to say which had not better be unsaid.

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

I regret things all the time. I've never regretted not saying something. I've only regretted saying something.

I have never been hurt by what I have not said.

I often regret that I have spoken; never that I have been silent.

Listen! Clam up your mouth and be silent like an oyster shell, for that tongue of yours is the enemy of the soul, my friend. When the lips are silent, the heart has a hundred tongues.

I've really learned to watch what I say.

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

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

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

There is a better thing than the great man who is always speaking, and that is the great man who only speaks when he has a great word to say.

Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.

While thou livest keep a good tongue in thy head.

If we say a little it is easy to add, but having said too much it is hard to withdraw and never can it be done so quickly as to hinder the harm of our success.

You'll regret opening your mouth. You'll rarely regret keeping it shut.

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.

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

If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.

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

As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.

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

Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.

Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.