We who officially value freedom of speech above life itself seem to have nothing to talk about but the weather.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–2022) American Social Critic, Essayist
Speak but little and well if you would be esteemed a man of merit.
—Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–86) Irish Prelate, Philologist, Poet
A constant governance of our speech, according to duty and reason, is a high instance and a special argument of a thoroughly sincere and solid goodness.
—Isaac Barrow
The secret of a good sermon is
to have a good beginning and a good ending,
then having the two as close together as possible.
—George Burns (1896–1996) American Comedian
Proverbs are the lamp of speech.
—Arabic 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
I am thankful for all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
—Nancie J. Carmody
When you make as many speeches and you talk as much as I do and you get away from the text, it’s always a possibility to get a few words tangled here and there.
—Dan Quayle (b.1947) American Head of State, Politician, Elected Rep
A good speech is a good thing, but the verdict is the thing.
—Daniel O’Connell (1775–1847) Irish Nationalist Leader
A long tongue shortens life.
—Unknown
Only good words should be spoken, never evil ones. Uttering good words is profitable. One who utters evil words will have to regret.
—Buddhist Teaching
A witty saying proves nothing.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Let a man talk of what he can do, not of what he still cannot do. He who is merely clever at speaking, but not doing, will he detected by the wise man.
—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
Let a man speak what is pleasant and cheerful. A wise man does not pay attention to others’ insult and always speak what is delightful.
—Buddhist Teaching
It takes two to speak truth—one to speak, and another to hear.
—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
It is usually said by grammarians, that the use of language is to express our wants and desires; but men who know the world hold that he who best knows how to keep his necessities private, is the most likely person to have them redressed; and that the true use of speech is not so much to express our wants as to conceal them.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
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
We must have reasons for speech but we need none for silence.
—French Proverb
I’ve decided to discontinue my long talks. It’s because of my throat. Someone threatened to cut it.
—Unknown
Literature is the immortality of speech.
—August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845) German Poet, Literary Critic, Scholar
Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
Speech is always bolder than action.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
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
Any man who makes a speech more than six times a year is bound to repeat himself, not because he has little to say, but because he wants applause and the old stuff gets it
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
There are remarks that sow and remarks that reap.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
Never try to impress people with the profundity of your thought by the obscurity of your language. Whatever has been thoroughly thought through can be stated simply.
—Unknown
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
—Buddhist Teaching
Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses,—for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it—not in a set way and ostentatiously, though, but incidentally and without premeditation.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet