When to Keep Quiet and When to Speak…

 

I wonder if the saying that it’s more valuable to know how to keep quiet than to speak is always valid…

1. Some people speak from experience, while others don’t say precisely due to their expertise.
2. Man’s lips are a strong trap against him, and he gets stuck in it with the words spoken by his own mouth. (Proverbs 6:4)
3. Wise men conceal their skillfulness during the mouth of the reckless approaches to desolation. (Proverbs 10:15)
4. A lot of talking will not save you from sin, but the one keeping his mouth shut will be cautious. (Proverbs 10:20)
5. A fool who says nothing is different from a scholar who keeps quiet. (Moliere)
6. He who keeps quiet does a lot of work. (Romanian Proverb)
7. He who keeps quiet walks in peace. (Romanian Proverb)
8. He who always speaks makes many mistakes. (Romanian Proverb)
9. He who talks a lot doesn’t work much. (Romanian Proverb)
10. It is better to keep quiet than speak ill. (Romanian Proverb)

 

Not always

Long story short. They are not mine, but they are golden. Ask yourself these questions each time before you open your mouth. Thus, you will succeed in discerning.

1. I wonder if I have something crucial, valuable, or helpful to say in this context.
2. I wonder if anybody is interested in what I want to say and how they would like me to say it.
3. I wonder if this is the right time for me to say this.
4. Have I spoken enough, by any chance? I wonder if I’m crossing the line.
5. I wonder if I have more to gain if I only listen.
6. Is it my turn to speak first, or do I pay attention to what information I receive?
7. Am I provoked?
8. Am I in an extreme state?
9. Whose home territory am I on? What is the environment?
10. I wonder if I will be a destructive critic or a disruptive engine if I speak now.

Merry silence!

 

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Marcus Victor Grant

Text Copyright © Marcus Victor Grant 2005-present. Translation by Cristiana Brezeanu of the article “Când să taci şi când să vorbeşti… “previously published in Romanian on the 6th of February 2012 on Discerne. Text Copyright © Marcus Victor Grant, all rights reserved. Initially written in 2005.

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