--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He is nearest to the gods who knows how…" description: "\"He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.\" — Cato the Elder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cato-the-elder-17964_god_he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how_2190254.png" --- # He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent. ![“He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.” quote by Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cato-the-elder-17964_god_he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how_2190254.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cato-the-elder-17964_god_he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how_2190254.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cato-the-elder-17964_god_he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how_2190254.png) > “He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.” [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who master silence are closest to the divine, implying that restraint and contemplation bring spiritual proximity. **In simple terms:** Silence brings one nearer to the gods. Key Takeaway Practice quiet contemplation. Themes spirituality silence wisdom Mood calm inspirational Type philosophical maxim When to use this quote - meditation - prayer - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy Stoicism Questions to Reflect On - How can silence be used wisely? - When should you speak instead? A Different Perspective Silence may hinder necessary communication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [“The gods, he knows now, will not help mankind. If they even exist—which he is no longer certain of—it is clear they do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-friedman/the-gods-he-knows-now-will-not-help-mankind-if-they-even-exist-which/) [C.S. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-friedman/) > [“Not one person in a hundred knows how to be silent and listen, no, nor even to conceive what such a thing means. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/not-one-person-in-a-hundred-knows-how-to-be-silent-and-listen-no-nor/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Those who want the fewest things are nearest to the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/those-who-want-the-fewest-things-are-nearest-to-the-gods/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Socrates said, "Those who want fewest things are nearest to the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/socrates-said-those-who-want-fewest-things-are-nearest-to-the-gods/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [The wise man knows when to keep silent. Only the fool tells all he knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-wise-man-knows-when-to-keep-silent-only-the-fool-tells-all-he/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [He who knows nothing knows enough if he knows how to be silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/he-who-knows-nothing-knows-enough-if-he-knows-how-to-be-silent/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows-not-when-to-speak/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [“For to-day I take or give; For to-day I drink and live; For to-day I beg or borrow; Who knows about the silent morrow?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/for-to-day-i-take-or-give-for-to-day-i-drink-and-live-for-to-day-i/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [When the fool knows when to be silent, he would be sitting among the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/when-the-fool-knows-when-to-be-silent-he-would-be-sitting-among-the/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“A smart person knows how to talk. A wise person knows when to be silent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/a-smart-person-knows-how-to-talk-a-wise-person-knows-when-to-be-silent/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [“Time renders all people and all things silent. And gods, it seems, are no exception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-renders-all-people-and-all-things-silent-and-gods-it-seems-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you see those dull stars?" She outlined the formation with her finger. "A pentagram," whispered Scott. "Yes, but not just any pentagram. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mattie/do-you-see-those-dull-stars-she-outlined-the-formation-with-her/) [Katie Mattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mattie/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What Gods do you believe in? I'll build you a temple of mirrors so you can see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/what-gods-do-you-believe-in-i-ll-build-you-a-temple-of-mirrors-so-you/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) ## More by Cato the Elder > [The worst ruler is one who cannot rule himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/the-worst-ruler-is-one-who-cannot-rule-himself/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly since it has no ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/it-is-a-difficult-matter-to-argue-with-the-belly-since-it-has-no-ears/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/an-angry-man-opens-his-mouth-and-shuts-his-eyes/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [When you have decided to purchase a farm, be careful not to buy rashly; do not spare your visits and be not content with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/when-you-have-decided-to-purchase-a-farm-be-careful-not-to-buy-rashly/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Grasp the subject, the words will follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/grasp-the-subject-the-words-will-follow/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [An orator is a good man who is skilled in speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/an-orator-is-a-good-man-who-is-skilled-in-speaking/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Patience is the greatest of all virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/patience-is-the-greatest-of-all-virtues/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Furthermore, I think Carthage must be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/furthermore-i-think-carthage-must-be-destroyed/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [When you have arrived at your country house and have saluted your household, you should make the rounds of the farm the same day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/when-you-have-arrived-at-your-country-house-and-have-saluted-your/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [If you are ruled by mind you are a king; if by body, a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/if-you-are-ruled-by-mind-you-are-a-king-if-by-body-a-slave/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Moreover, I consider that Carthage should be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/moreover-i-consider-that-carthage-should-be-destroyed/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [I prefer to do right and get no thanks than to do wrong and receive no punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/i-prefer-to-do-right-and-get-no-thanks-than-to-do-wrong-and-receive/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [From lightest words sometimes the direst quarrel springs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/from-lightest-words-sometimes-the-direst-quarrel-springs/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [“Thieves of private property pass their lives in chains; thieves of public property in riches and luxury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/thieves-of-private-property-pass-their-lives-in-chains-thieves-of/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Tis sometimes the height of wisdom to feign stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/tis-sometimes-the-height-of-wisdom-to-feign-stupidity/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) [Explore all 36 Cato the Elder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. 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There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cato the Elder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how-to-be-silent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how-to-be-silent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cato-the-elder-17964_god_he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how_2190254.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cato-the-elder-17964_god_he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how_2190254.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cato-the-elder-17964_god_he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how_2190254.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.” — Cato the Elder", "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": "Cato the Elder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He is nearest to the gods...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how-to-be-silent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how-to-be-silent/#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 } } ] } ```