--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know to shut up when I don't know what…" description: "\"I know to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about.\" — Cree Summer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/cree-summer-16405_about_i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what_1747071.jpg" --- # I know to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about. ![“I know to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about.” quote by Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/cree-summer-16405_about_i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what_1747071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/cree-summer-16405_about_i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what_1747071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/cree-summer-16405_about_i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what_1747071.jpg) > “I know to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about.” [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking only when knowledgeable prevents misinformation and shows respect for conversation **In simple terms:** Stay silent when unsure to avoid spreading falsehoods Key Takeaway Think before you speak and seek knowledge first Themes humility communication learning respect Mood thoughtful cautious Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - meeting discussions - online forums - public speaking - teaching sessions Key Concepts epistemic responsibility active listening Questions to Reflect On - When have you chosen silence over speaking? - How do you verify information before sharing? A Different Perspective Silence may be misinterpreted as disengagement ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Don Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-know/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Shut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-shut-1151887/) [Know Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-talking/) [Shut up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut-up/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [It's very important in life to know when to shut up. You should not be afraid of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/it-s-very-important-in-life-to-know-when-to-shut-up-you-should-not-be/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [“You do not know how to shut me up, Hazel Grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-do-not-know-how-to-shut-me-up-hazel-grace/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Sometimes you have to know when to shut the f - - up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/sometimes-you-have-to-know-when-to-shut-the-f-up/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [If I'm educated and passionate about a topic, I'll answer the question. But I also know when to shut the hell up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/if-i-m-educated-and-passionate-about-a-topic-i-ll-answer-the-question/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [What bothers me is when people don't know when to shut up...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-bothers-me-is-when-people-don-t-know-when-to-shut-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To ward off cancer, they even know how to shut themselves down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-ward-off-cancer-they-even-know-how-to-shut-themselves-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You dont know me at all so shut ur mouth and keep my name away from it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-hatchet/you-dont-know-me-at-all-so-shut-ur-mouth-and-keep-my-name-away-from-it/) [Destiny Hatchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny-hatchet/) > [Hopefully one day people will learn to mind their business, leave the past behind them and know when to shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hopefully-one-day-people-will-learn-to-mind-their-business-leave-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Them haters in your face you just ignore them. Don't know what they talking sh-t for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/them-haters-in-your-face-you-just-ignore-them-don-t-know-what-they/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [Knowledge, or verbal facility, is no proof that you know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/knowledge-or-verbal-facility-is-no-proof-that-you-know-what-you-re/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I think I was in high school, actually, and it was a guidance counselor or someone said, you know, you're just too loud; like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-think-i-was-in-high-school-actually-and-it-was-a-guidance-counselor/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [I have done most of my talking by post of late years--as people shut up in dungeons take up with scrawling mottoes on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/i-have-done-most-of-my-talking-by-post-of-late-years-as-people-shut/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Shane talking to Claire - "Hang on - Slow down. I'm not going anywhere. You know that, right? You don't have to put out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/shane-talking-to-claire-hang-on-slow-down-i-m-not-going-anywhere-you/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“It is good, to copy in the name of Babaji, when you do not know what you are talking about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-hermans/it-is-good-to-copy-in-the-name-of-babaji-when-you-do-not-know-what/) [Petra Hermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-hermans/) > [Give advice to your children while they're young enough to believe you know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/give-advice-to-your-children-while-they-re-young-enough-to-believe/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) ## More by Cree Summer > [Being in the body of an African-American woman, I prefer animation. I get to be everybody. I don't have to always be the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/being-in-the-body-of-an-african-american-woman-i-prefer-animation-i/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [The Indians are a civilization wrought with culture and a beautiful, deep spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/the-indians-are-a-civilization-wrought-with-culture-and-a-beautiful/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [When I'm working with strangers, I can get a little timid or scared. With friends, I'm willing to' try anything, because there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/when-i-m-working-with-strangers-i-can-get-a-little-timid-or-scared/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I grew up in a house made out of mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-grew-up-in-a-house-made-out-of-mud/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I slept in closets and on floors for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-slept-in-closets-and-on-floors-for-a-long-time/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [It it weren't for HBCUs, 'A Different World' wouldn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/it-it-weren-t-for-hbcus-a-different-world-wouldn-t-exist/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I wanted to be in a rock band. That's all I ever wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-wanted-to-be-in-a-rock-band-that-s-all-i-ever-wanted-to-do/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I was reading 'The Prophet' on my own when I was 10 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-was-reading-the-prophet-on-my-own-when-i-was-10-years-old/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I like to look at the skyline and the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-like-to-look-at-the-skyline-and-the-moon/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I'm appreciating the little bitty things that make me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-m-appreciating-the-little-bitty-things-that-make-me-happy/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I was raised on an Indian reservation, and I didn't see a television set till I was 10, so it's not a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-was-raised-on-an-indian-reservation-and-i-didn-t-see-a-television/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I want to continue acting as long as I feel right about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-want-to-continue-acting-as-long-as-i-feel-right-about-it/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [I'm just inspired by music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-m-just-inspired-by-music/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [My father said, 'Let's raise our child in a paradise instead of a parking lot,' and that's what they did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/my-father-said-let-s-raise-our-child-in-a-paradise-instead-of-a/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [People say to me, 'Ooh, L.A. is so plastic.' Sure, it's mountains to the right, oceans to the left and pretense in the middle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/people-say-to-me-ooh-l-a-is-so-plastic-sure-it-s-mountains-to-the/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) [Explore all 40 Cree Summer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [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/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cree Summer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what-i-m-talking-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what-i-m-talking-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/cree-summer-16405_about_i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what_1747071.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/cree-summer-16405_about_i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what_1747071.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/cree-summer-16405_about_i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what_1747071.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about.” — Cree Summer", "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": "Cree Summer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know to shut up when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what-i-m-talking-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-know-to-shut-up-when-i-don-t-know-what-i-m-talking-about/#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 } } ] } ```