" It was said of William the Silent, by one of
his greatest enemies, that an arrogant or indiscreet word was
never known to fall from his lips. Like him, Washington was
discretion itself in the use of speech, never taking advantage of
an opponent, or seeking a shortlived triumph in a debate. And it
is said that in the long run, the world comes round to and
supports the wise man who knows when and how to be silent.
We have heard men of great experience say that they have often
regretted having spoken, but never once regretted holding their
tongue. "Be silent," says Pythagoras, "or say something better
than silence." "Speak fitly," says George Herbert, "or be silent
wisely." St. Francis de Sales, whom Leigh Hunt styled "the
Gentleman Saint," has said: "It is better to remain silent than to
speak the truth ill-humouredly, and so spoil an excellent dish by
covering it with bad sauce." Another Frenchman, Lacordaire,
characteristically puts speech first, and silence next. "After
speech," he says, "silence is the greatest power in the world."
Yet a word spoken in season, how powerful it may be! As the
old Welsh proverb has it, "A golden tongue is in the mouth
of the blessed."
It is related, as a remarkable instance of self-control on the
part of De Leon, a distinguished Spanish poet of the sixteenth
century, who lay for years in the dungeons of the Inquisition
without light or society, because of his having translated a part
of the Scriptures into his native tongue, that on being liberated
and restored to his professorship, an immense crowd attended his
first lecture, expecting some account of his long imprisonment;
but Do Leon was too wise and too gentle to indulge in
recrimination.
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