Touch not the flute when drums are sounding around; when fools have the word, the wise will be silent.
—Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803) German Lutheran Philosopher, Theologian, Poet, Literary Critic
Silence is argument carried on by other means.
—Che Guevara (1928–67) Argentine-Cuban Revolutionary
There is a silence, the child of love, which expresses everything, and proclaims more loudly than the tongue is able to do.
—Vittorio Alfieri (1749–1803) Italian Dramatist
Silence is the ornament and safeguard of the ignorant. Silence is the safest response for all the contradiction that arises from impertinence, vulgarity, or envy.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
If silence is becoming to a wise man, how much more so to a fool?
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.
—John of the Cross (1542–1591) Spanish Roman Catholic Mystic
It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.
—Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) Greek Philosopher
The cruelest lies are often told in silence.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Fellows who have no tongues are often all eyes and ears.
—Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) Canadian Author, Humorist, Businessperson, Judge
The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.
—Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) American Psychiatrist
Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Silence and simplicity obtrude on no one, but are yet two unequaled attractions in woman.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
Silence,–the applause of real and durable impressions.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After death has stopped the ears.
—A. E. Housman (1859–1936) British Poet, Scholar
One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
If a word spoken in time is worth one piece of money, silence in its time is certainly worth two.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub.
—Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) American Psychiatrist
Do not deem they speech secure, for the wall has ears.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Silence is golden.
—Common Proverb
The cruelest lies are often told in silence. A man may have sat in a room for hours and not opened his mouth, and yet come out of that room a disloyal friend or a vile calumniator.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Silence may be golden, but can you think of a better way to entertain someone than to listen to him?
—Brigham Young (1801–77) American Mormon Leader
Give not thy tongue too great liberty, lest it take thee prisoner. A word unspoken is, like the sword in the scabbard, thine. If vented, thy sword is in another’s hand. If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Poet
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; but, define yourself.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone (1868–1938) American Businessperson
The silent dog is the first to bite.
—German Proverb
Silence is exhilarating at first – as noise is – but there is a sweetness to silence outlasting exhilaration, akin to the sweetness of listening and the velvet of sleep.
—Edward Hoagland (b.1932) American Essayist, Novelist
Sticks and stones are hard on bones.
Aimed with angry art,
Words can sting like anything
But silence breaks the heart.
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–78) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer of Children’s Books
Leisure is a form of silence, not noiselessness. It is the silence of contemplation such as occurs when we let our minds rest on a rosebud, a child at play, a Divine mystery, or a waterfall.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
Silence is one of the great arts of conversation, as allowed by Cicero himself, who says “there is not only an art, but an eloquence in it.” A well-bred woman may easily and effectually promote the most useful and elegant conversation without speaking a word. — The modes of speech are scarcely more variable than the modes of silence.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Silence is more eloquent than words.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Silence is the best answer to the stupid.
—Egyptian Proverb
Still waters run deep.
—Common Proverb
The best answer to anger is silence.
—German Proverb
I have learned silence from the talkative; tolerance from the intolerant and kindness from the unkind. I should not be ungrateful to those teachers.
—Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
If men wound you with injuries, meet them with patience: hasty words rankle the wound, soft language dresses it, forgiveness cures it, and oblivion takes away the scar. It is more noble by silence to avoid an injury than by argument to overcome it.
—Francis Beaumont (1584–1616) English Dramatist
There are grammatical errors even in his silence.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
Silence is music to a wise man.
—Turkish Proverb
I have often repented speaking, but never of holding my tongue.
—Xenocrates (396BCE–314BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician
Silence is consent.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
A silent mouth is melodious.
—Irish Proverb
Speech is great, but silence is greater.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist