Natalie Clifford Barney Quotes

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

Whatever you say, say nothing.

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

Tell no man anything, for no man listens Yet hold thy lips ready to speak.

We must distinguish between speaking to deceive and being silent to be reserved.

I am a chatty person, but colossally discreet.

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

Silence is worth a thousand pieces of silver.

When you have nothing to say, you don't talk.

Silence is most powerful. Speech is always less powerful than silence.

Into a mouth shut flies flie not.

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

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.

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.

The way I figured it, keeping quiet was safe. Words could betray you if you choose the wrong ones, or mean less if you used too many.

Silence hides nothing. Words conceal.

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

Good as is discourse, silence is better and shames it.

Sometimes it's what you don't say that counts.

You can't improve on saying nothing.

If you have nothing to say, say nothing.

Speech is better than silence; silence is better than speech.

You can't say everything, so you don't say nothing.

It isn’t what you say that counts, it’s what you don’t say

I'm guarded; I don't talk much.