Willem Dafoe Quotes

Silence and reserve will give anyone a reputation for wisdom.

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.

Have more than you show, Speak less than you know.

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

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

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

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

Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.

I know things but I shut my mouth.

Think a lot, say little, and write nothing.

Never miss an opportunity to keep your damn mouth shut.

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)

It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.

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

Silence is the sanctuary of prudence.

Life is fraught with opportunities to keep your mouth shut.

If you keep your mouth shut you will never put your foot in it.

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

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.

Blessed is the man, who having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact.

It ain't a bad plan to keep still occasionally even when you know what you're talking about.

An Englishman's never so natural as when he's holding his tongue.

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

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