---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the first virtue is to restrain…"
description: "\"I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.\" — Cato t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/cato-the-elder-17964_anger_i-think-the-first-virtue-is-to-restrain_2218051.png"
---

#  I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he…

![“I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.” quote by Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/cato-the-elder-17964_anger_i-think-the-first-virtue-is-to-restrain_2218051.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/cato-the-elder-17964_anger_i-think-the-first-virtue-is-to-restrain_2218051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/cato-the-elder-17964_anger_i-think-the-first-virtue-is-to-restrain_2218051.png)

> “I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.”

[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.

Restraint in speech is a highest virtue; silence shows wisdom even when one is right.

**In simple terms:** Silence shows wisdom even when..

Key Takeaway

Speak only when needed.

Themes

self‑control communication wisdom

Mood

reflective serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- political debate
- personal relationships
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

Stoicism ethical conduct

Questions to Reflect On

- When does speaking out cause more harm than good?
- How can you practice mindful speech?

A Different Perspective

Silence may be misinterpreted as weakness or agreement.

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[Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Restrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restrain/) [Restrain Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restrain-tongue-3157664/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Silent Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent-right-2170767/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Tongue Approaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue-approaches-4938576/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Restrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-restrain-4198160/)

## Related quotes

> [I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-the-first-virtue-is-to-restrain-the-tongue/)

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

> [Consider it the greatest of all virtues to restrain the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-younger/consider-it-the-greatest-of-all-virtues-to-restrain-the-tongue/)

[Cato the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-younger/)

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[Cato the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-younger/)

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[Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/)

> [ \[The\] operation of the wisest laws is imperfect and precarious. They seldom inspire virtue, they cannot always restrain vice. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-operation-of-the-wisest-laws-is-imperfect-and-precarious-they/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [We have to be able to protect the homeland, and we have to be able to restrain evil in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/we-have-to-be-able-to-protect-the-homeland-and-we-have-to-be-able-to/)

[Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/)

> [“Dreams are ideas where the collar has been removed and the leash has been thrown away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/dreams-are-ideas-where-the-collar-has-been-removed-and-the-leash-has/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“Lancelot tried to have a Word. His Word was valuable to him not only because he was good, but also because he was bad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white/lancelot-tried-to-have-a-word-his-word-was-valuable-to-him-not-only/)

[T.H. WHite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white/)

> [Love doesn't hurt, people do, why restrain yourself because of someone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-fouche/love-doesn-t-hurt-people-do-why-restrain-yourself-because-of-someone/)

[Desmond Fouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-fouche/)

> [Then, everlasting Love , restrain thy will; 'Tis god -like to have power, but not to kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/then-everlasting-love-restrain-thy-will-tis-god-like-to-have-power/)

[John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/)

> [I take it as a man's duty to restrain himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-take-it-as-a-man-s-duty-to-restrain-himself/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [Our company was mortgaged to the hilt, and that did restrain us, and it's why we had to take in partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rinehart/our-company-was-mortgaged-to-the-hilt-and-that-did-restrain-us-and-it/)

[Gina Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rinehart/)

> [“You got a vicious animal inside you. It wants to snap, it wants to attack, but it's harmless because some woman fitted a muzzle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/you-got-a-vicious-animal-inside-you-it-wants-to-snap-it-wants-to/)

[Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/)

> [“I will teach you in time, but for now restrain me and have your way with me. I don’t want to think, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laci-paige/i-will-teach-you-in-time-but-for-now-restrain-me-and-have-your-way/)

[Laci Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laci-paige/)

> [Those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained; and the restrainer or reason usurps its place & governs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/those-who-restrain-desire-do-so-because-theirs-is-weak-enough-to-be/)

[William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/)

## 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/)

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> [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 Anger quotes

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