Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes

If You are mighty, gain respect through knowledge and gentleness of speech. Do not command except as is fitting.

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

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

I know things but I shut my mouth.

Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket: and do not merely pull it out and strike it; merely to show that you have one.

Sometimes you usually know the point where to keep your mouth shut.

Unrestrained zeal to make the world better could make it worse. Promoting democracy must be undertaken with humility, care, and wisdom.

Discretion is a very valuable asset.

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

Qui plussait, plus se tait. French, you know. The more a man knows, the less he talks.

It gets really tricky giving advice. The older I get, the less advice I give.

We should keep silent about those in power; to speak well of them almost implies flattery; to speak ill of them while they are alive is dangerous, and when they are dead is cowardly.

Know when to speak - for many times it brings danger, to give the best advice to kings.

Right after the game, say as little as possible.

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.

If thou art a master, be sometimes blind; if a servant, sometimes deaf.

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

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

It is more noble by silence to avoid an injury than by argument to overcome it.

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

It is always safe to learn, even from our enemies; seldom safe to venture to instruct, even our friends.

One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.

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

I tell it like it is, but I don't voice my opinion unless it's asked for.