There is a silence, the child of love, which expresses everything, and proclaims more loudly than the tongue is able to do.
William DrummondRead
Put a bridle on thy tongue; set a guard before thy lips, lest the words of thine own mouth destroy thy peace... on much speaking cometh repentance, but in silence is safety.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Be cautious with your words, as they can harm your peace and lead to regret.
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-control when it comes to speaking. It suggests that one should think carefully before expressing thoughts aloud, as unfiltered words can lead to personal turmoil and regret. By practicing silence or being more deliberate in speech, one can maintain inner peace and avoid the potential consequences of reckless communication.
Themes
WordsSilencePeaceSelf-ControlCommunication
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting, one might share this quote to encourage concise and thoughtful contributions.
More from William Drummond
All quotes →He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; and he that dares not reason is a slave.
William DrummondRead
Study what thou art Whereof thou art a part What thou knowest of this art This is really what thou art. All that is without thee also is within.
William DrummondRead
Similar quotes
Knowledge is great. Competence is great. But the combination of both encourages people to trust you and increases your powers of enchantment. And in this world, the combination is a breath of fresh air.
Guy KawasakiRead
Upon the first goblet he read this inscription, monkey wine; upon the second, lion wine; upon the third, sheep wine; upon the fourth, swine wine. These four inscriptions expressed the four descending degrees of drunkenness: the first, that which enlivens; the second, that which irritates; the third, that which stupefies; finally the last, that which brutalizes.
Victor HugoRead
I have the same confidence in the ability of our people to reject noxious literature as I have in their capacity to sort out the true from the false in theology, economics, or any other field.
William O. DouglasRead
Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust, in the best way, all our present difficulty.
Abraham LincolnRead
I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy. The civil rights movement thrives on unity and inclusion, not division and exclusion. My husband's struggle parallels that of the gay rights movement.
Coretta Scott KingRead
I learned at Yale, one of the biggest lessons was to learn how special I am and therefore how totally unspecial I am. I was special among everyone else who was special. The fact that we're all so individual and that's what makes us special.
Lupita Nyong'ORead