---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't know too much, but you can say…"
description: "\"You can't know too much, but you can say too much.\" — Calvin Coolidge"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b1/calvin-coolidge-764_too-much_you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say_1296433.jpg"
---

#  You can't know too much, but you can say too much.

![“You can't know too much, but you can say too much.” quote by Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b1/calvin-coolidge-764_too-much_you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say_1296433.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b1/calvin-coolidge-764_too-much_you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say_1296433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b1/calvin-coolidge-764_too-much_you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say_1296433.jpg)

> “You can't know too much, but you can say too much.”

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Excessive knowledge can lead to excessive speech; restraint is wise.

**In simple terms:** Too much knowledge can cause too much talk.

Key Takeaway

Speak wisely.

Themes

communication wisdom restraint

Mood

reflective balanced

Type

philosophical advisory

When to use this quote

- leadership
- public speaking
- media interviews

Key Concepts

speech knowledge self‑control

Questions to Reflect On

- When is speaking essential?
- How to balance knowledge and speech?

A Different Perspective

Silence can also hinder necessary discourse.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Write about what you know, that's what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/write-about-what-you-know-that-s-what-i-say/)

[Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/)

> [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/)

[Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/)

> [“You know what they say, Queenie: ALWAYS bet like you have a pair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-lothlorien/you-know-what-they-say-queenie-always-bet-like-you-have-a-pair/)

Elle Lothlorien

> [The main thing is to know something and to say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/the-main-thing-is-to-know-something-and-to-say-it/)

[Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/)

> [The people who know the least about you, always have the most to say about you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/the-people-who-know-the-least-about-you-always-have-the-most-to-say/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [I know how to say 'no' in twelve languages. That's enough for a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-know-how-to-say-no-in-twelve-languages-that-s-enough-for-a-woman/)

[Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/)

> [I don't know how to say no, and that's a weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-no-and-that-s-a-weakness/)

[Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/)

> [“You know what they say. They?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/you-know-what-they-say-they/)

[Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/)

> [You know what they say about big hitters...the woods are full of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-demaret/you-know-what-they-say-about-big-hitters-the-woods-are-full-of-them/)

[Jimmy Demaret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-demaret/)

> [“I thought your life was like this because you were new, but it's always gonna be like this, isn't it? You'll always have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-thought-your-life-was-like-this-because-you-were-new-but-it-s/)

[Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/)

> [“I know there's nothing you can say to make death okay. It is what it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-hathaway/i-know-there-s-nothing-you-can-say-to-make-death-okay-it-is-what-it-is/)

[Jill Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-hathaway/)

> [Funny how the people who know you the least have the most to say about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/funny-how-the-people-who-know-you-the-least-have-the-most-to-say/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Edith says that there are some people in the world that don't you all the time or play games but they still love you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/edith-says-that-there-are-some-people-in-the-world-that-don-t-you-all/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“Well, man, you know what they say." No, I don't. I don't know what they say. I don't even know who they are. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/well-man-you-know-what-they-say-no-i-don-t-i-don-t-know-what-they-say/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [We are ignorant of what it is we do not know even though we know more than we can ever say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-l-s-shackle/we-are-ignorant-of-what-it-is-we-do-not-know-even-though-we-know-more/)

G. L. S. Shackle

## More by Calvin Coolidge

> [Not all those who are attempting to conduct successful businesses are profiteers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/not-all-those-who-are-attempting-to-conduct-successful-businesses-are/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [A wholesome regard for the memory of the great men of long ago is the best assurance to a people of a continuation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-wholesome-regard-for-the-memory-of-the-great-men-of-long-ago-is-the/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [“I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me any harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/i-have-noticed-that-nothing-i-have-never-said-ever-did-me-any-harm/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [“It has been my observation in life that, if one will only exercise the patience to wait, his wants are likely to be filled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/it-has-been-my-observation-in-life-that-if-one-will-only-exercise-the/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [The man who builds a factory builds a temple, that the man who works there worships there, and to each is due, not scorn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-man-who-builds-a-factory-builds-a-temple-that-the-man-who-works/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [The property of the people belongs to the people. To take it from them by taxation cannot be justified except by urgent public necessity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-property-of-the-people-belongs-to-the-people-to-take-it-from-them/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [“The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-nation-which-forgets-its-defenders-will-itself-be-forgotten/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/no-person-was-ever-honored-for-what-he-received-honor-has-been-the/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [Nations are beginning to look to some vague organization, some nebulous course of humanity, to pay their bills and tell them what to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/nations-are-beginning-to-look-to-some-vague-organization-some/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [The government can supply no substitute for enterprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-government-can-supply-no-substitute-for-enterprise/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [“While we should not refuse to spend and be spent in the service of our country, it is hazardous to attempt what we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/while-we-should-not-refuse-to-spend-and-be-spent-in-the-service-of/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [One of the greatest dangers to peace lies in the economic pressure to which people find themselves subjected. One of the most practical things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/one-of-the-greatest-dangers-to-peace-lies-in-the-economic-pressure-to/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [War is the rule of force, and peace is the reign of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/war-is-the-rule-of-force-and-peace-is-the-reign-of-law/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [Advertising ministers to the spiritual side of trade. It is great power that has been entrusted to your keeping which charges you with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/advertising-ministers-to-the-spiritual-side-of-trade-it-is-great/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [We cannot permit any inquisition either within or without the law or apply any religious test to the holding of office. The mind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/we-cannot-permit-any-inquisition-either-within-or-without-the-law-or/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

[Explore all 376 Calvin Coolidge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

## More Know quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [“To know someone, to be known. That matters more than he'd ever thought it would.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/to-know-someone-to-be-known-that-matters-more-than-he-d-ever-thought/)

[Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/)

> [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/)

Robert Preston

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [“Take your time to find and understand what you don’t know and in the end, you shall know that it is not all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/take-your-time-to-find-and-understand-what-you-don-t-know-and-in-the/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

Browse all 22,299 Know quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You can't know too much, but you can say too much.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Calvin Coolidge"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say-too-much/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Know"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say-too-much/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b1/calvin-coolidge-764_too-much_you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say_1296433.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b1/calvin-coolidge-764_too-much_you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say_1296433.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b1/calvin-coolidge-764_too-much_you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say_1296433.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You can't know too much, but you can say too much.” — Calvin Coolidge",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Calvin Coolidge",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You can't know too much, but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say-too-much/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/you-can-t-know-too-much-but-you-can-say-too-much/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
