Those that are silent profess consent.
—Unknown
If you keep your mouth shut you will never put your foot in it.
—Austin O’Malley (1858–1932) American Aphorist, Ophthalmologist
‘Tis best to be silent in a bad cause.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Silence was never written down.
—Italian 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.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Silence is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that come from knowing how to contact your core of inner silence. The great Sufi poet Rumi wrote, “Only let the moving waters calm down, and the sun and moon will be reflected on the surface of your being.”
—Deepak Chopra (b.1946) Indian-born American Physician, Public Speaker, Writer
The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence; not in silence, but restraint.
—Marianne Moore (1887–1972) American Poet
When money speaks, the truth keeps silent.
—Russian Proverb
Silence is also speech.
—Common Proverb
Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
Speech is often repented, silence never.
—Danish Proverb
Silence is the unbearable repartee.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The silence, often, of pure innocence, persuades when speaking fails.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Woman, to women silence is the best ornament.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
But please remember, especially in these times of group-think and the right-on chorus, that no person is your friend (or kin) who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow and be perceived as fully blossomed as you were intended.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
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 may break your bones when there’s anger to impart. Spiteful words can hurt your feelings but silence breaks your heart. Anger is as a stone cast into a wasp’s nest.
—Unknown
Love and let the world know, hate in silence.
—Egyptian Proverb
A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?
—Unknown
The whisper of a pretty girl can be heard further than the roar of a lion.
—Arabic Proverb
Silence is the most powerful scream.
—Indian Proverb
Euripides was wont to say that silence was an answer to a wise man; but we seem to have greater occasion for it in our dealing with fools and unreasonable persons; for men of breeding and sense will be satisfied with reason and fair words.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
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
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
An inability to stay quiet is one of the most conspicuous failings of mankind.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Silence is medication for sorrow.
—Arabic Proverb
Saying nothing… sometimes says the most.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
There’s nothing wrong with having nothing to say—unless you insist on saying it.
—Unknown
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
God’s poet is silence! His song is unspoken,
And yet so profound, so loud, and so far,
It fills you, it thrills you with measures unbroken,
And as soft, and as fair, and as far as a star.
—Joaquin Miller (1837–1913) American Poet, Journalist
A note of music gains significance from the silence on either side.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.
—Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) American Sportsperson
Speech is of time, silence is of eternity.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I do know of those that therefore only are reputed wise, for saying nothing.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Silence implies consent.
—Common Proverb
We may give more offense by our silence than even by impertinence.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
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
Silence, beautiful voice.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
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
A silent mouth is sweet to hear
—Unknown
The silence depressed me. It wasn’t the silence of silence. It was my own silence.
—Sylvia Plath (1932–63) American Poet, Novelist
We have all probably noted those sudden moments of quiet – those strange and almost miraculous moments in the life of a big city when there is a cessation of traffic noise – just an instant when there is only the sound of footsteps which serves to emphasize a sudden peace. During those seconds it is possible to notice the sunlight, to notice our fellow humans, to take breath.
—Dorothy Day (1897–1980) American Journalist, Christian Activist
Silence is the sanctuary of prudence.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Silence is a source of great strength.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Silence is the best answer to the stupid.
—Egyptian Proverb
What a strange power there is in silence! How many resolutions are formed, how many sublime conquests effected, during that pause when lips are closed, and the soul secretly feels the eye of her Maker upon her!—They are the strong ones of earth who know how to keep silence when it is a pain and grief unto them, and who give time to their own souls to wax strong against temptation.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Words can make a deeper scar than silence can heal.
—Unknown