10 Times When You Should Say Nothing At All

Be Wise and Keep Quiet

There are times when people should be wise enough to keep quiet. According to Proverbs 17:28 in the New International Version of the Bible,

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

According to the King James Version of the Bible:

"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."

Both versions of the same scripture are clear that a person is considered wise if he remains silent. Some people speak to make people think they are wise, when wisdom is sometimes the result of keeping quiet.

Abraham Lincoln put it in his own words by saying:

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

Silence is Golden

Since silence is golden, many other well-known people have given advice about remaining silent. Some examples, dating back to 1887, have been collected about keeping silent. They are included in Proverbs, Maxims, and Phrases of All Ages. The wording is different, but the message is the same.

• “Silence is the virtue of those who are not wise.”
• “Silence is wisdom and gets a man friends.”
• “Silence is wisdom when speaking is folly.”

Mute Your Mouth

Advice recorded in the Bible and advice from well-known people have something in common. They all advise silence over speaking in certain situations.

They agree that there are times when people should mute their mouths and say nothing. Whether they are in a meeting, at a family reunion, or in general conversation with a group of people, everyone should know when to keep quiet and when to speak.

1. Don't Barge in on Conversations

Keep quiet when those around you are already engaged in a conversation when you walk up. Resist the temptation to barge in with your thoughts. You have not heard what was said before you arrived. If you offer your input, it must be something that has already been covered.

2. Respect What Others Have to Say

Keep quiet when others are explaining their viewpoints. It is rude to jump in when someone else is explaining their personal opinions about something. Let others have their turn. Wait until it is your turn to speak. Give others the same respect that you want when you are talking.

3. Stop Correcting People

It is very tempting to correct people when you disagree with something. You should keep quiet because you don't have to agree with everything people say. They have the right to speak their opinions, just as you do.

4. Don't Chime in with Your Opinions

Please keep quiet when you don't know what others are talking about. If they are talking about their favorite movie and the parts they liked the best, it would be unwise to chime in with your opinions when you have not even seen the movie.

You are not entitled to an opinion in other people's conversations when you are ignorant about a situation. Do not speak about a subject you know nothing about. There are times you should talk, and times you should be silent.

5. Stop bragging

Some people like to brag about something. If someone in the group said he went on vacation to Hawaii for a week, there is no need to say you went to Bora Bora for a month. You should refrain from trying to top everything someone else has done.

6. Resist Talking About Yourself

Keep quiet when you find yourself talking about yourself instead of the issue at hand. Some people put themselves into every conversation. No matter what the group is talking about, some people tend to turn the conversation about themselves instead of focusing on the original topic.

7. Give Others a Chance to Speak

Let others express their thoughts even though you know the answer to the questions. When the facilitator in Bible Study or Sunday School is explaining something, the same individuals should not answer every question. At times, people should be quiet and let others participate as well.

8. Watch Signs to Be Quiet

Watch the signs and know when others want you to stop talking. Often, people in a group use various tactics to get talkative people to be quiet. They show a lack of interest in their body language by doodling, or bowing their heads, or showing other signs that the person speaking should be brief.

9. Don't Provide Unrelated Information

Be quiet after you have said something profound. Do not continue sharing unrelated and less important information. Say the main thing and then be quiet. If you continue talking, the profound thing you said will be forgotten.

10. Stop Wasting Time

You don't have to give the last word in every conversation. Once the conversation has ended, stop starting it up again. When you do that, you waste people's time and patience.

Do you know a talkative person who needs to be quiet sometimes?

Survey says:

• 86% YES
• 14% I Am One of Those People