Henri Nouwen Quotes

Silence is often the best thing to say.

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

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

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

He who does not know how to be silent will not know how to speak.

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

Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.

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

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

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

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

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.

Speech is silver, silence is golden.

Teach your child to hold his tongue; he'll learn fast enough to speak.

Let thy words be few when in the midst of many.

If you have nothing to say, say nothing.

Speech is great, but silence is greater.

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.

Why did God give me two ears and one mouth? So that I will hear more and talk less.

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

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

My best attribute is knowing when not to answer stupid questions.

Choose silence of all virtues, for by it you hear other men's imperfections, and conceal your own.

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