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Silence
I Have Nothing to Say
Albert Einstein once attended a dinner at which he received an award. Although Einstein was not scheduled to speak, the audience clamored for the great scientist. Einstein stood and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am very sorry, but I have nothing to say.” Einstein sat down, but rose a few seconds later and added, “In case I do have something to say, I’ll come back.”
Today in the Word, September, 1998, p. 17
A Time to Keep Silence
What did Solomon mean when he spoke of “a time to keep silence” in Ecclesiastes 3:7? One writer answers this question by pointing out that there is “a foolish silence, a sullen silence, a cowardly silence, and a despairing silence. None of these is to recommended. However, there is a prudent, holy, gracious silence to which Scripture enjoins us.”
If we do not learn to practice this kind of restraint, we will speak injurious words that stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1) and use harsh, uncontrolled language (Prov. 21:23). Unguarded lips always lead to serious consequences. Someone has listed six mischievous “Misses” that result: Miss Information, Miss Quotation, Miss Representation, Miss Interpretation, Miss Construction, and Miss Understanding. They are the result of talking when we should be quiet.
What power there is in the silence of self-control! John Wesley observed this in a disagreement between two women. One was speaking vehemently and gesturing wildly, while the other stood perfectly still—tranquil and unperturbed. Finally the first woman stamped her foot and shouted, “Speak! so I can have something more to say to you!” Wesley commented, “That was a lesson to me: Silence is often the best answer.”
H.G.B., Our Daily Bread, May 9
Why Didn’t You Stop Salin?
During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. “You were one of Stalin’s colleagues. Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Who said that?” roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, “Now you know why.”
Today in the Word, July 13, 1993
A Philosopher on the Wisdom of Silence
Once on a railway journey my father unintentionally perpetrated some slight infraction and was unmercifully bawled out by a minor train employee. I was young then and hotly told my father afterward that he should have given the man a piece of his mind.
My father smiled, “Oh,” he said, “if a man like that can stand himself all his life, surely I can stand him for five minutes.”
Catholic Quote, Reader’s Digest, March, 1980
Directions
A mousy little fellow was waiting on a corner when a car stopped and a huge man got out.
“Excuse me, please,” the big guy said, “but I’m a stwanger in town and I’m lost. Can you diwect me to Wolling Woad?”
The ousy fellow looked at the big guy nervously and said nothing.
“Are you deaf?” the big man wanted to know. “Can’t you speak Engwish?”
Still getting no answer, the big man walked over to a police officer. “Excuse me, please, officer, but can you tell me how to get to Wolling Woad?”
“Rolling Road? Why sure—you go down this street and turn right.”
“Thank you vewy much,” replied the muscleman as he went his way. The officer watched him leave, and then went over to the little fellow. “What’s the matter with you?” he asked. “Couldn’t you tell him how to get to Rolling Road?”
“Howy smoke, officer, are you cwazy? The minute I twied to tell that big wascal how to get to Wolling Woad, he’d have town me wimb from wimb.”
Quoted by James Dent of Charleston, W.Va., Gazette, quoted in Reader’s Digest, March, 1980
Casey Stengel’s Sayings
Casey Stengel was a longtime major league baseball manager whose unique way with the English language became known as “Stengelese.” He once said, “I’ve always heard that it couldn’t be done, but sometimes it don’t always work.” That’s typical Stengelese. Casey held a position on the board of directors for a California bank. According to a story that originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Casey described his duties this way: “There ain’t nuthin’ to it. You go into the fancy meeting room and you just sit there and never open your yap. As long as you don’t say nuthin’ they don’t know whether you’re smart or dumb.”
Our Daily Bread, June 5, 1992
Portrait of Coolidge
Grace Coolidge, the wife of President Calvin Coolidge, tried to surprise her husband by having his portrait painted. When it was finished, she hung it in the library of the White House. Later the same morning the President happened to walk into the library accompanied by a senator. They stared at the picture together in silence. Finally Coolidge commented quietly: “I think so too.”
Bits & Pieces, January 9, 1992, p. 23
But You Talk Back
When Calvin Coolidge was President he saw dozens of people every day. Most had complaints of one kind or another. A visiting Governor once told Coolidge he didn’t understand how he could see so many people. “Why, you finish with them by dinner time,” the Governor remarked, “while I’m often at my desk till midnight.” “Yes,” said Coolidge, “But you talk back.”
Bits and Pieces, August, 1989
Silence is an Opinion
It had been a rather stormy board meeting and some very harsh things had been said. One man—always highly respected and unusually wise in his judgments—had said nothing throughout the proceedings. Suddenly one of the leaders in the argument turned to him: “You have not said a word. I am sure we would all like to hear your opinion about this matter.” “I have discovered,” replied the quiet one, “that there are many times when silence is an opinion.”
Bits and Pieces, Sept., 1989
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