Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
In difficult moments, listening is more valuable than speaking.
In plain terms
Right now you should listen instead of talking.
What can you take from it?
Timing matters; silence often serves better than words.

Where it applies

  • conflict
  • crisis
  • grief

Putting it to work

  • practice active listening
  • choose silence
  • read the room

Questions to consider

  • When is silence the right choice?
  • How do you know when to speak?

Another view

Sometimes speaking is necessary to resolve the situation.

More from Orson Scott Card

  1. You know nothing about me at all. Which is almost certainly true. I know nothing about you. No one knows anything about you.

    Permalink to quote #348
  2. You are truly a monster. You speak of sacrilege and massacre of innocents, and then you ask me to trust you. I speak of necessity, and ask you to help me keep …

    Permalink to quote #350
  3. We are all fools when one wise man appears.

    Permalink to quote #347

Related quotes

  1. 'It's not so much knowing when to speak, when to pause.'

    Jack BennyJack Benny quote #6
  2. 'Your voice will come. We all go through the same thing. You cannot talk when you first arrive.' He smiled. 'It helps you listen.'

    Mitch AlbomMitch Albom quote #7
  3. Silence sweeter is than speech.

    Dinah CraikDinah Craik quote #10