wise silence Quotes

A wise man may be duped as well as a fool; but the fool publishes the triumph of his deceiver; the wise man is silent, and denies that triumph to an enemy which he would hardly concede to a friend; a triumph that proclaims his own defeat.

I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.

Fools multiply when wise men are silent.

The silence of a wise man is always meaningful.

Silence is an answer to a wise man.

Be slow to speak, and only after having first listened quietly, so that you may understand the meaning, leanings, and wishes of those who do speak. Thus you will better know when to speak and when to be silent.

Silence is the best answer to a fool.

Silence is Wisdom where Speaking is Folly.

I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.

Silence, when nothing need be said, is the eloquence of discretion.

The proverb says that 'The answer to a fool is silence'. Observation, however, indicates that almost any other answer will have the same effect in the long run.

Listen! Say less rather than more. If you want to be smart, play stupid!

Speake fitly, or be silent wisely.

Where one is hopelessly undecided as to what to say, there (as Confucius would have said, if they had given him the opportunity) silence is golden.

When you're wrong admit it, when you're right, shut up.

A man of virtue, judgment, and prudence speaks not until there is silence.

Not every one who has the gift of speech understands the value of silence.

When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defense strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.

It is a great misfortune not to possess sufficient wit to speak well, nor sufficient judgment to keep silent.

It is a great misfortune neither to have enough wit to talk well nor enough judgment to be silent.

If thy words be too luxuriant, confine them, lest they confine thee; he that thinks he never can speak enough may easily speak too much. A full tongue and an empty brain are seldom parted.

We live in succession, in division, in parts and particles. Meantime, within man, is the soul of the whole; the wise silence; the universal beauty to which every part and particle is equally related; the eternal One.

It is a sad thing when men have neither enough intelligence to speak well nor enough sense to hold their tongues; this is the root of all impertinence.

When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "A fool cannot hold his tongue.

Whenever you're wrong, admit it; Whenever you're right, shut up.