Speech is silver, silence is golden.
—Common Proverb
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
A thousand useless words is not worth one by which the mind can be calmed after listening to it.
—Buddhist Teaching
Proverbs are the lamp of speech.
—Arabic Proverb
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
Literature is the immortality of speech.
—August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845) German Poet, Literary Critic, Scholar
He is a vicious person who gives false witness either for his own sake or for others’ or for wealth.
—Buddhist Teaching
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
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
The public improves the speaker’s speech.
—Persian Proverb
Speech happens to not be his language
—Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) French Woman of Letters
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
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
One often makes a remark and only later sees how true it is.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
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
Good poetry seems too simple and natural a thing that when we meet it we wonder that all men are not always poets. Poetry is nothing but healthy speech.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
An axe is born in a mouth of everyone. It is the axe with which a fool who says evil words wounds himself.
—Buddhist Teaching
No man not inspired can make a good speech without preparation
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Song is the heroics of speech.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The radiant and well-understood speech of one person is better than the speech of a thousand people that is not.
—African Proverb
Speech is the mirror of action.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
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
A talk is like a woman’s dress. Long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to be interesting.
—Unknown
Better pointed bullets than pointed speeches.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
Most men make little use of their speech than to give evidence against their own understanding.
—George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633–95) British Statesman, Writer, Politician
A good speech is a good thing, but the verdict is the thing.
—Daniel O’Connell (1775–1847) Irish Nationalist Leader
A person’s character is revealed by their speech
—Greek Proverb
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
As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not, so men are proved by their speeches whether they be wise or foolish.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
Such as thy words are, such will thine affections be esteemed; and such as thine affections, will be thy deeds; and such as thy deeds will be thy life.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
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