Do not speak harshly to anybody; those who are spoken to will answer thee in the same way. Angry speech is painful, blows for blows will touch thee.
—The Dhammapada Buddhist Anthology of Verses
Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Don’t speak unless you can improve on the silence.
—Spanish Proverb
All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Stay at home in your mind. Don’t recite other people’s opinions. I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Half wits talk much, but say little.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Talk is cheap, except when Congress does it.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognizably wiser than oneself.
—Marlene Dietrich (1901–92) German-American Film Actress, Cabaret Performer
Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it; then tell them what you’ve said.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.
—John Wayne (1907–79) American Actor, Director, Producer
In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude. Every man will speak as he thinks, or, more properly, without thinking, and consequently will judge of effects without attending to their causes.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
A speech should not just be a sharing of information, but a sharing of yourself.
—Ralph Archbold (1942–2017) American Actor, Impersonator
If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A closed mouth catches no flies.
—French Proverb
Get out of here and leave me alone. Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough already.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
He who comes from afar may lie without fear of contradiction as he is sure to be listened to with the utmost attention.
—French Proverb
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
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
Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t thought of yet.
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist
Some people approach every problem with an open mouth.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
The trouble with me is that I like to talk too much.
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930) American President, Chief Justice
Before you speak ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.
—Bernard Meltzer (1916–98) American Writer, Radio Host
The relationship of the toastmaster to the speaker should be the same as that of the fan to the fan dancer. It should call attention to the subject without making any particular effort to cover it.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
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
I don’t care how much a person talks, if they only say it in a few words.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Every man is born with the faculty of reason and the faculty of speech, but why should he be able to speak before he has anything to say?
—Benjamin Whichcote (1609–83) British Clergyman, Scholar
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