The talkative listen to no one, for they are ever speaking.—And the first evil that attends those who know not how to be silent, is, that they hear nothing.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
There are many who talk on from ignorance rather than from knowledge, and who find the former an inexhaustible fund of conversation.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
He that cannot refrain from much speaking is like a city without walls; therefore if thou observest this rule in all assemblies thou shalt seldom err; restrain thy choler, hearken much, and speak little, for the tongue is the instrument of the greatest good and greatest evil that is done in the world.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
Those who have but little business to attend to, are great talkers. The less men think, the more they talk.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
A civil guest will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
As empty vessels make the loudest sound, so they that have least wit are the greatest babblers.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Brisk talkers are usually slow thinkers. There is, indeed, no wild beast more to be dreaded than a communicative man having nothing to communicate. If you are civil to the voluble they will abuse your patience; if brusque, your character.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
They think too little who talk too much.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
It requires a great deal of poetry to gild the pill of poverty, and then it will pass current only in theory; the reality is a dead failure.
—Dorothee Luzy Dotinville (1747–1830) French Dancer, Actress
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
Words learned by rote a parrot may rehearse; but talking is not always to converse; not more distinct from harmony divine, the constant creaking of a country sign.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so it is of small wits to talk much and say nothing.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much, says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most explicit and direct manner. He tries to compress as much thought as possible into a few words. On the contrary, the man who talks everlastingly and promiscuously, who seems to have an exhaustless magazine of sound, crowds so many words into his thoughts that he always obscures, and very frequently conceals them.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
When I think of talking, it is of course with a woman. For talking at its best being an inspiration, it wants a corresponding divine quality of receptiveness, and where will you find this but in a woman?
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Great knowledge, if it be without vanity, is the most severe bridle of the tongue. For so have I heard, that all the noises and prating of the pool, the croaking of frogs and toads, are hushed and appeased upon the bringing upon them the light of a candle or torch. Every beam of reason and ray of knowledge checks the dissolution of the tongue.
—Jeremy Taylor
Talkative people who wish to be loved are hated; when they desire to please, they bore; when they think they are admired, they are laughed at; they injure their friends, benefit their enemies, and ruin themselves.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Does a man speak foolishly?—suffer him gladly, for you are wise. Does he speak erroneously?—stop such a man’s mouth with sound words that cannot be gainsaid. Does he speak truly?—rejoice in the truth.
—Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) British Head of State, Military Leader
It has been well observed, that the tongue discovers the state of the mind no less than that of the body; but, in either case, before the philosopher or the physician can judge, the patient must open his mouth.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Talkers are no good doers.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If you light upon an impertinent talker, that sticks to you like a burr, deal freely with him, break off the discourse, and pursue your business.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Cautiously avoid speaking of the domestic affairs either of yourself, or of other people. Yours are nothing to them but tedious gossip; and theirs are nothing to you.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
We often say things because we can say them well, rather than because they are sound and reasonable.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
The more ideas a man has the fewer words he takes to express them. Wise men never talk to make time; they talk to save it.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Never hold anyone by the button or the hand in order to be heard out; for if people are unwilling to hear you, you had better hold your tongue than them.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
It has been said in praise of some men, that they could talk whole hours together upon anything; but it must be owned to the honor of the other sex, that there are many among them who can talk whole hours together upon nothing.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
There is the same difference between the tongues of some, as between the hour and the minute hand; one goes ten times as fast, and the other signifies ten times as much.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Great talkers are like leaky vessels; everything runs out of them.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
One learns tacturnity best among those who have none, and loquacity among the taciturn.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
What a spendthrift he is of his tongue.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If thy words be too luxuriant, confine them, lest they confine thee.—He that thinks he can never speak enough, may easily speak too much.—A full tongue and an empty brain are seldom parted.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet