If other people are going to talk, conversation becomes impossible.

He is a good creature, and more sensible than any one would imagine," said Dorothea, inconsiderately. "You mean that he appears silly." "No, no," said Dorothea, recollecting herself, and laying her hand on her sister's a moment, "but he does not talk equally well on all subjects." "I should think none but disagreeable people do," said Celia, in her usual purring way.

Brevity is justified at once to those who readily understand, and to those who will never understand.

Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure.

Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness.

You hesitate to stab me with a word, and know not - silence is the sharper sword.

Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own follies.

If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.

It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt

Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

When in doubt, say nothing and move on.

The present state of the world and the whole of life is diseased. If I were a doctor and were asked for my advice, I should reply, 'Create silence'.