Window or Mirror?

“Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”

1. The absence or lack of noise
2. A refusal, failure, or inability to speak
3. An absence of notice or acknowledgment of something

• A man who lives right, and is right, has more power in his silence than another has by his words. - Phillips Brooks
• One nice thing about silence is that it cannot be repeated. - Gary Cooper
• It is difficult to keep quiet if you have nothing to do. - Arthur Schopenhauer

In his admonishment, Mr. Franklin seems to concentrate on the “value content” of the words spoken and on the time that can be wasted by idle talk. These are good points, but they are certainly not all the benefits of silence. The refusal to speak when another is probing for gossip, and the avoidance of complaining are two further benefits gained from this virtue. Read the rest of this entry »