Speech is the small change of silence.
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in a few words.
—Unknown
We who officially value freedom of speech above life itself seem to have nothing to talk about but the weather.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b.1941) American Social Critic, Essayist
I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.
—Buddhist Teaching
Three things matter in a speech – who says it, how he says it and what he says, and of the three, the latter matters the least
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Political Leader, Writer, Editor, Journalist
Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words or in good order.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Not speech, but facts, convince.
—Greek Proverb
Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
What has influenced my life more than any other single thing has been my stammer. Had I not stammered I would probably… have gone to Cambridge as my brothers did, perhaps have become a don and every now and then published a dreary book about French literature.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Silence is also speech.
—Common Proverb
According to Solomon, life and death are in the power of the tongue; and as Euripides truly affirmeth, every unbridled tongue in the end shall find itself unfortunate; in all that ever I observed I ever found that men’s fortunes are oftener made by their tongues than by their virtues, and more men’s fortunes overthrown thereby, also, than by their vices.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
He is a vicious person who gives false witness either for his own sake or for others’ or for wealth.
—Buddhist Teaching
A person’s character is revealed by their speech
—Greek Proverb
Never rise to speak till you have something to say; and when you have said it, cease.
—John Witherspoon (1723–94) Scottish-American Presbyterian Theologian
There are three things that ought to be considered before some things are spoken,—the manner, the place, and the time.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
One should not speak too much nor keep quiet all the time. When it is time to speak, let him speak moderately and not redundantly.
—Buddhist Teaching
The common fluency of speech in many men, and most women, is owing to a scarcity of matter and a scarcity of words; for whoever is a master of language and has a mind full of ideas, will be apt in speaking to hesitate upon the choice of both; whereas common speakers have only one set of ideas, and one set of words to clothe them in; and these are always ready at the mouth; so people come faster out of a church when it is almost empty, than when a crowd is at the door.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Language is legislation, speech is its code. We do not see the power which is in speech because we forget that all speech is a classification, and that all classifications are oppressive.
—Roland Barthes (1915–80) French Writer, Critic, Teacher
Speak but little and well if you would be esteemed a man of merit.
—Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–86) Irish Prelate, Philologist, Poet
Human speech is like a cracked tin kettle, on which we hammer out tunes to make bears to dance when we long to move the stars.
—Gustave Flaubert (1821–80) French Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
To quarrel with a man of good speech is better than to converse with a man who does not speak well.
—Indian Proverb
A tart temper never mellows with age; and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener and sharper with constant use.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Man does not speak because he thinks; he thinks because he speaks. Or rather, speaking is no different than thinking: to speak is to think.
—Octavio Paz (1914–98) Mexican Poet, Diplomat
Speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood.
—Karl Popper (1902–94) Austrian-born British Philosopher
Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel. It is to bring another out of his bad sense into your good sense.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
—Buddhist Teaching
Better pointed bullets than pointed speeches.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
Speech both conceals and reveals the thoughts of men.
—Latin Proverb
Many great writers have been extraordinarily awkward in daily exchange, but the greatest give the impression that their style was nursed by the closest attention to colloquial speech.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
No man not inspired can make a good speech without preparation
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Speech was given to the ordinary sort of men, whereby to communicate their mind; but to wise men, whereby to conceal it.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
It takes two to speak truth—one to speak, and another to hear.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
There is tonic in the things that men do not love to hear. Free speech is to a great people what the winds are to oceans … and where free speech is stopped miasma is bred, and death comes fast.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Speech is the image of actions
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
It was justly said by Themistocles that speech is like tapestry unfolded, where the imagery appears distinct; but thoughts, like tapestry in the bale, where the figures are rolled up together.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Sheridan once said of some speech, in his acute, sarcastic way, that “it contained a great deal both of what was new and what was true; but that what was new was not true, and what was true was not new.”
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
—Buddhist Teaching
There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Silence sweeter is than speech.
—Dinah Craik (1826–87) British Novelist, Essayist, Poet
A sage thing is timely silence, and better than any speech
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
For mankind, speech with a capital S is especially meaningful and committing, more than the content communicated. The outcry of the newborn and the sound of the bells are fraught with mystery more than the baby’s woeful face or the venerable tower.
—Paul Goodman (1911–72) American Novelist, Essayist
I don’t want to talk grammar. I want to talk like a lady.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Today’s public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can’t read them either.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright
Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
The ability to express an idea is well nigh as important as the idea itself.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet