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Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.

Silence

A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.De Sales.

A silent tongue and a true heart are the most admirable things on earth.German.

Be checked for silence but never taxed for speech.Shakespeare.

Be silent and pass for a philosopher.Latin.

Be silent or say something better than silence.German.

Be silent or speak something worth hearing.

Better be silent than talk ill.Portuguese.

Better silence than ill speech.Swedish.

Better silent like a fool than talk like a fool.German.

Deep rivers move in silence, shallow brooks are noisy.

Deep vengeance is the daughter of deep silence.Byron.

Few ever repented of having forborne speech.Rambler.

From a silent man and a dog that does not bark deliver us.Spanish.

From a silent person remove your dwelling.Spanish.

God rights the man that keeps silence.Persian.

He that is silent gathers stones.

He that knows nothing, knows enough if he know how to be silent.Italian.

He that knows when to speak, knows too when to be silent.Archimedes.

He who is silent gains store.Spanish.

He who would prosper in peace must suffer in silence.German.

I have often regretted having spoken, never having kept silent.Publius Syrus.

I prefer silent prudence to loquacious folly.Cicero.

If a word be worth one shekel, silence is worth two.

In silence there is many a good morsel.

In the company of strangers silence is safe.

It is good speaking that improves good silence.Dutch.

It is well to know how to be silent till it is time to speak.Portuguese.

Least said is soonest mended.

Many have suffered by talking, few by silence.

More have repented of speech than of silence.

Mute the camel labors with the heaviest load,
And the wolf dies in silence.Byron.

Of much speaking cometh repentance, but in silence is safety.Ancient Brahmin.

One accomplishes more by silence than by speech.German.

No one betrays himself by silence.German.

No one has ever injured another through silence.German.

No wisdom like silence.

Silence and look out, we shall catch both hen and chicks.Spanish.

Silence and reflection cause no dejection.German.

Silence answers much.Dutch.

Silence brings friendship.

Silence gives consent.French, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch.

Silence grips the mouse.

Silence has many advantages.Menander.

Silence in love betrays more woe
Than words, though ne’er so witty;
A beggar that is dumb you know
May challenge double pity.Raleigh.

Silence is a fine jewel for a woman but it is little worn.

Silence is as great an art as speech.German.

Silence is better than unmeaning words.Pythagoras.

Silence is consent.

Silence is deep as eternity, speech is shallow as time.Carlyle.

Silence is learned by the many misfortunes of life.Seneca.

Silence is more eloquent than words.German.

Silence is the answer to anger.German.

Silence is the god of the fortunate.German.

Silence is the greatest ornament in a woman.Latin.

Silence is the mother of truth.Benjamin Disraeli.

Silence is the sanctuary of truth.

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.

Silence never betrays you.John Boyle O’Reilly.

Silence puts an end to quarrels.Tamil.

Silence reaps what speech sows.

Silence seldom does harm.

Silence was never written down.Italian.

Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.Bacon.

Silence is the virtue of a fool.Bacon.

Silence aspires after truth.Bacon.

Silent men like still waters are deep and dangerous.

Some things are better praised by silence than remark.Latin.

Speaking comes by nature, silence by understanding.German.

Speaking is silver, silence is gold.Dutch.

Speaking silence is better than senseless speech.Danish.

Speech is oft repeated, silence never.Danish.

Speech is silver, silent golden; who speaks sows, who keeps silent reaps.Persian.

Study the power of silence.

The silence of the people is the lesson of kings.

The silent dog is the first to bite.German.

The silent man is most trusted.Danish.

The virtue of silence is a great piece of knowledge.Italian.

There is a gift beyond the reach of art: of being eloquently silent.Bovee.

There is a sure reward for faithful silence.Horace.

’Tis easier to know how to speak than how to keep silent.

To be silent hurts no one, to be talkative does the mischief.Latin.

Too much speech and too much silence belong to the fool.German.

Unreasonable silence is folly.

We ought either to be silent or speak things better than silence.Pythagoras.