“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Several have said it in various configurations. Regardless of the version, each entails less talk and more wisdom.
When I was young, I acted foolishly in many ways. One was talking during church. I suppose the church my dad pastored didn’t have a nursery. These were the days when children still cut their teeth on church pews and were taught to remain silent during church. Acting childishly resulted in a trip outside or to a back classroom for a learning lesson applied to the hindquarters.
My saintly grandmother, who didn’t want her only grandson getting a spanking, brought along a pocketful of chocolate candy, silver bells as I called them. Stuffing my mouth with them for forty-five minutes probably wasn’t healthy, but it helped me keep my mouth closed.
Wise King Solomon had a lot to say about when and what a person should and should not say when they did speak.
Less talk promotes selflessness. Life was about me as a youngster—and for some years thereafter. Kids are narcissistic; so are some adults. But life isn’t about us. By reducing the number of words we speak, we learn to hear about what’s going on in others’ lives.
Talking less enables us to actually hear what others are saying. The other person doesn’t stand a chance if we're doing all the talking. Nor can we hear them if we’re silent but mulling over what we will say when they finish talking. That’s called lack of focus—or focusing on the wrong thing. Looking at the person speaking helps us listen and digest what they’re sharing.
Being a person of few words also helps us consider the importance of our words. One of my college professors had an annoying habit of pausing before he answered a question—so much so that I wanted to answer for him. Later, I understood his reasoning. He thought before he spoke—which, by the way, saves from making many foolish statements.
Listening more than we speak opens up opportunities for us to help others. We hear and understand what they’re saying, and then we can speak and act wisely.
Think of ways you could speak less so others can talk more.
Father, give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.
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