Speak not at all, in any wise, till you have somewhat to speak; care not for the reward of your speaking, but simply and with undivided mind for the truth of your speaking.
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
Speake fitly, or be silent wisely.
He who does not know how to be silent will not know how to speak.
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.
Let your thoughts be abundant, but let your mouth be under restraint.
While thou livest keep a good tongue in thy head.
One must not be afraid of a little silence. Some find silence awkward or oppressive. But a relaxed approach to dialogue will include the welcoming of some silence. It is often a devastating question to ask oneself, but it is sometimes important to ask it - 'In saying what I have in mind will I really improve on the silence?
I am always quiet so that I know what to say when I must speak.
Be slow of tongue and quick of eye.
Once you've said it, you can't put it back. So choose your words carefully in heated moments in personal relationships. Anything you say, people have feelings. If you're thinking something, you keep thinking it and it just sort of slides out, it's gonna happen.
Let us not look east and west for materials of conversation, but rest in presence and unity. A just feeling will fast enough supply fuel for discourse, if speaking be more grateful than silence. When people come to see us, we foolishly prattle, lest we be inhospitable. But things said for conversation are chalk eggs. Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
Right speech comes out of silence and right silence comes out of speech.
Speak from your mind and people will hear you with their mind. Speak from your heart and people will hear you with their heart.
In the midst of a discourse, speak not.
Think before thou speakest.
Spiritual practice is not just sitting and meditation. Practice is looking, thinking, touching, drinking, eating and talking. Every act, every breath, and every step can be practice and can help us to become more ourselves.
It is very wholesome exercise, this trying to make one's words represent one's thoughts, instead of merely looking to their effect on others
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.
The tongue may be an unruly member-- But silence poisons the soul.
There is a grace of kind listening, as well as a grace of kind speaking.
The way you speak to others can offer them joy, happiness, self-confidence, hope, trust, and enlightenment. Mindful speaking is a deep practice.
The problem is that people think once and talk 10 times. It's better to think 10 times before you talk once.
The reality is there is only each present moment: You are called to give a talk. You get out of a building and into a car. You look out of the window. You arrive at the venue. You sit in the chair; you wait; you step out onto the stage. Every movement is simple. There is only that.
I am a better listener than talker - but that's partly because I believe rows are often caused by saying things you haven't thought through properly.
