Speech is human, silence is divine, yet also brutish and dead: therefore we must learn both arts.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Speech and silence are both essential human arts that serve different purposes; neither is superior on its own.
- In plain terms
- You need to know when to talk and when to be quiet.
- What can you take from it?
- Balance expression with restraint to communicate effectively.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is silence more powerful than speech?
- How do you balance talking and listening?
Another view
Too much silence can be misinterpreted as ignorance or disinterest.
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