Most of the time in married life is taken up by talk.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
A good speaker makes a good liar.
—German Proverb
Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
He who does not say too much has too much to say.
—Unknown
Women prefer to talk in twos, while men prefer to talk in threes.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
A man does not know what he is saying until he knows what he is not saying.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Do you wish people to think well of you?. Don’t speak well of yourself.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Two great talkers will not travel far together.
—Spanish Proverb
Half wits talk much, but say little.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Only the prepared speaker deserves to be confident.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
One way of looking at speech is to say it is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness.
—Harold Pinter (1930–2008) British Playwright
Speak when you are spoken to.
—Common Proverb
Orators are most vehement when they have the weakest cause, as men get on horseback when they cannot walk.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
What you are doing rings so loudly in my ears that I can’t hear what you’re saying.
—Unknown
Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
The first evil those who are prone to talk suffer, is that they hear nothing.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Look wise say nothing and grunt, speech was given to conceal thought.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
A speech should not just be a sharing of information, but a sharing of yourself.
—Ralph Archbold (1942–2017) American Actor, Impersonator
Opening amenities are often opening inanities.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Before a man speaks, it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks it is seldom necessary to assume.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Speaking comes by nature, silence by understanding.
—German Proverb
I didn’t say the things I said.
—Yogi Berra (1925–2015) American Sportsperson
Be ever on your guard what you say of anybody and to whom.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
An orator who is disposed to evil subverts the law.
—Unknown
I would rather be guilty of talking over a person’s head than behind his back.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Be interesting, be enthusiastic… and don’t talk to much.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
If an eloquent speaker speak not the truth, is there a more horrid kind of object in creation?
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The people only understand what they can feel; the only orators that can affect them are those who move them.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
Talking and eloquence are not the same.—To speak and to speak well are two things.—A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.
—John Wayne (1907–79) American Actor, Director, Producer